After another tremendous regular season, the Boston Celtics will begin their NBA title defense on Sunday in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Orlando Magic. Orlando won the regular season series 2-1 over Boston.
However, the NBA playoffs are a different beast -- especially at TD Garden -- and it's something this Magic team will have to contend with in the first two games of the series.
Most NBA analysts and fans expect Boston to win this first-round matchup over the Magic. But former Magic All-Star center and Class of 2025 Basketball Hall of Famer Dwight Howard obviously has a different opinion on the series. He thinks the Celtics don’t have an answer for Magic star forward Paolo Banchero.
Dwight Howard is picking Orlando to upset Boston in the first round
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 20, 2025
“Who gonna stop a healthy Paolo in a 7 game series?”
(🎥 @DH12abovetherim / h/t @Sports_Legacyy )
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"I got Orlando beating the Celtics. And then I’m going to tell you this, when Orlando beats the Celtics, who's gonna stop Paolo?
Who gonna stop a healthy Paolo in a healthy seven-game series?"
The Magic legend harped on Banchero’s size, stating that the Celtics are too small to defend him, even reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and defensive specialist Derrick White.
In two games against the Celtics this season, Banchero is averaging 18.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. He’s also shooting 37.8 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Banchero is shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range on the season. The Celtics likely know the key to winning this series is shutting down Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic’s top two offensive weapons.
Boston isn’t paying any attention to Howard’s words, but best believe that if the Celtics sweep them or win in five games, the fanbase will let Howard hear about it on social media.