Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and the Boston Celtics ran past the Orlando Magic 121-94. With freshman star Cooper Flagg and his Duke teammates in the stands, Tatum, a former Blue Devils standout, went 12 of 21 from the floor to help Boston break out of a recent shooting slump.

The defending NBA Champions are on the second half of a back-to-back on Saturday, Jan. 18 when the Atlanta Hawks visit the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston.

It was a big game for the Celtics’ stars. Jayson Tatum scored 30 points, Kristaps Porzingis scored 23, and Jaylen Brown had 20.

Boston took advantage of a undermanned Magic squad, missing four rotation players with a dominant offensive effort from all areas of the floor. The Celtics shot a red-hot 61 percent from the field before intermission, helping them build a 12-point halftime lead.

Jayson Tatum scored 30 points as the Boston Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic 121-94 on Friday night. Tatum, a former star at Duke, impressed in front of freshman standout Cooper Flagg and his Duke teammates,

With a sold-out TD Garden atmosphere backing them, the full-strength Celtics ... but Boston's firepower was too much for Orlando. "That's a championship team right there," Cole Anthony said.

Will All-Defensive Second Team Orlando Magic point guard Jalen Suggs hit the hardwood on Friday in a rematch against the Boston Celtics? More Celtics: Boston St

The Orlando Magic faced the Boston Celtics again on Friday. A win by the Magic would give them the season series for just the third time in the last 10 years against the Celtics.

The Celtics made 17 3-pointers against the Magic on Friday night. Orlando ended with just 5. The long-range game was the difference.

Cole Anthony led Orlando with 23 points ... 8-0 run and outscored the Magic 30-22 in the period to take control. Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum, left, is fouled by Orlando Magic's Anthony Black ...

De'Andre Hunter strengthened his case for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award with perhaps the best game of his professional basketball career on Monday night

Boston has lost nine games this season where it had the lead in the fourth quarter (which equals last year's mark in half the games).