Derrick White scores 30, Tatum stays in game after fall and Celtics beat Magic 103-86 in Game 1

BOSTON (AP) — As the Celtics were taking control of their playoff opener against the Orlando Magic, Boston’s best player was on his back in pain and tugging at his wrist.

As chants of “MVP!” rained down on him, Jayson Tatum eventually rose to his feet and was loudly cheered as he paced toward the bench.

“I just landed on it. It was throbbing for a second,” Tatum said. “It kind of went away.”

And brought a sigh of relief for a Boston team just starting its quest to repeat as NBA champions.

Derrick White scored 30 points, Tatum had 17 points and finished the game after a scary late fall, and the Celtics beat the Magic 103-86 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Sunday.

Payton Pritchard added 19 points off the bench for Boston, which hosts Game 2 on Wednesday night. Jaylen Brown played 31 minutes and had 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting after missing the final three games of the regular season due to a lingering knee issue.

“We’ve got many different ways we can win. A lot of different things we can throw at teams,” White said.

With Boston leading 89-73 with 8:28 remaining, Tatum went up for a dunk and was hit hard by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as he tried to block it. Tatum landed awkwardly on his right side.

He stayed down briefly before eventually rising to his feet, clenching his right hand. After a video review by referees, Caldwell-Pope’s foul was upgraded to a flagrant foul. Tatum subsequently missed the two ensuing free throws but remained in the game. He said a postgame X-ray came back clean.

Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 36 points and 11 rebounds. Franz Wagner added 23 points for Orlando, which has not made it out of the first round of the playoffs since the 2009-10 season.

Orlando led by a point at halftime, limiting a Boston team that set an NBA record for 3-pointers this season to 7 of 15 from beyond the arc in the opening 24 minutes and 16 of 37 for the game.

But the Magic turned the ball over six times in the third quarter and were outscored 30-18 as the Celtics took a 78-65 lead into the fourth. The Celtics’ lead grew as high as 19 in the final period.

For the game, Orlando finished with 15 turnovers which led to 24 Boston points.

“It's Game 1, there's nerves. Lit crowd. Really loud," Banchero said. “So, not a total surprise that we struggled a little bit on offense, honestly."

Brown, who received injections in his knee last week, didn’t show any noticeable effects of the issue at the outset Sunday. Later, with the Celtics leading by 15 in the third quarter, Brown drove in the lane for a two-handed dunk and swung on the rim in celebration.

“I haven't got one of those in a little bit,” Brown said. “But we're just getting started.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero (5) shoots against Boston Celtics' Jrue Holiday (4) during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Orlando Magic's Cole Anthony (50) drives between Boston Celtics' Payton Pritchard (11) and Jrue Holiday (4) during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Orlando Magic's Franz Wagner (22) drives past Boston Celtics' Derrick White (9) in front of Jayson Tatum (0) during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (0), right, reacts beside Derrick White after falling on a flagrant fowl by Orlando Magic's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (0), right, reacts beside Derrick White after falling on a flagrant fowl by Orlando Magic's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown leaves the court after defeating the Orlando Magic in game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero (5) keeps the ball away from Boston Celtics' Jrue Holiday (4) during the first half in game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Celtics' Derrick White (9) drives past Orlando Magic's Gary Harris (14) during the first half in game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Celtics' Jrue Holiday (4) looses control of the ball against Orlando Magic's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (3) during the first half in game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown (7) drives past Orlando Magic's Cory Joseph during the first half in game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum, left, drives past Orlando Magic's Anthony Black during the first half in game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 26 points in his annual homecoming game in Charlotte, and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Hornets 132-125 on Wednesday in front of 19,685, the largest crowd ever at the Spectrum Center.

Brandon Podziemski and Jimmy Butler each had 19 points for the Warriors, who’ve won five of six games. Gui Santos added 13 points off the bench, hitting three 3s for Golden State, which went 24 of 49 from beyond the arc.

Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 33 points, while LaMelo Ball finished with 27, going 7 of 10 from 3-point range. Rookie Kon Knueppel added 20 points in his return from a one-game absence because of a sprained ankle.

Charlotte played without starters Miles Bridges and Ryan Kalkbrenner because of injuries.

The Warriors led 69-64 lead at halftime behind four 3s and 15 points from Curry — who grew up in Charlotte and played college ball at nearby Davidson — and appeared on the verge of blowing out the Hornets after starting the third quarter on a 10-0 run. But Charlotte quickly turned the tables with Ball hitting three 3s, helping the Hornets put together a 32-12 run to take the lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The momentum swung back to the Warriors after Podziemski knocked down two 3s to open the fourth.

The Warriors held the lead throughout the rest of the fourth quarter and Draymond Green's tip-in off a Curry miss from deep with 1 minute remaining pushed the lead to six. Butler hit two free throws with 17 seconds left to seal the win.

Podziemski finished 5 of 7 from 3-point range, including a leaning 3-pointer off one foot to beat the shot clock.

The Hornets lost despite outscoring the Warriors 56-32 in the paint.

Warriors: Host Thunder on Friday night.

Hornets: Visit Bucks on Friday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III drives to the basket past Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Golden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton drives to the basket between Charlotte Hornets guard Liam McNeeley and guard Kon Knueppel during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller dunks over Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry shoots over Charlotte Hornets guard Lamelo Ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry vies for the ball with Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)