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)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including 17 in the first half, and No. 2 Michigan beat No. 24 Southern California 96-66 on Friday night.

Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points for the Wolverines (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten), and Will Tschetter, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason each scored 10.

Michigan is off to its best start since it won 17 straight games to start the 2018-19 season.

Jaden Brownell scored 16 points and Erza Ausar added 15 for the Trojans (12-2, 1-2), whose only previous loss was by eight points against Washington on Dec. 6. Chad Baker-Mazara, who came into the game averaging 21 points, was hampered by early foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Michigan starting guard Nimari Burnett was helped from the court with 16:25 left after falling during a battle under the basket. He went down to the floor and appeared to be bleeding above his eyebrow and holding his ankle. He sat on the bench the rest of the night.

The Wolverines bolted out to an 11-0 lead thanks to a defense that forced six early turnovers. USC got within five points twice in the first half and Michigan responded with a 32-19 run to build a 49-31 halftime advantage.

USC got no closer the rest of the way.

USC: At No. 9 Michigan State on Monday.

Michigan: Visits Penn State on Tuesday.

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Michigan center Aday Mara, front, drives against Southern California center Gabe Dynes, back, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)