Magic claw back against Celtics

(UPDATE) LOS ANGELES, California — The Orlando Magic held off the defending champion Boston Celtics, 95-93, to cut the deficit in their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series to 2-1 on Friday (Saturday in Manila) as the Milwaukee Bucks clawed back a game against the Indiana Pacers.

The Bucks, who like the Magic had dropped the first two games of their series on the road, also turned the tables upon returning home for Game 3 with a 117-101 victory over the Pacers.

The victories were crucial, with the Magic and Bucks both aware that no NBA team has come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win a playoff series.

Germany's Franz Wagner scored 32 points and handed out eight assists, and Paolo Banchero added 29 points with six rebounds for the Magic in Orlando — where the Celtics erased a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit but were thwarted in the frantic final minutes.

Six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum scored 36 points for the Celtics, showing no sign of the wrist injury that caused him to miss Game 2 — his first missed postseason game since he came into the league in 2017.

"High intensity," Banchero said of the final few possessions. "I love moments like these."

Boston had 21 turnovers leading to 26 Orlando points, and they connected on just nine of their 27 three-point attempts.

In Milwaukee, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo and Gary Trent Jr. scored 37 points apiece for the Bucks.

Trent drilled nine three-pointers on 12 attempts — equalling the Bucks record for treys in a playoff game set by Ray Allen.

Trent's performance helped the Bucks rally from a 10-point halftime deficit. They out-scored the Pacers, 39-18, in the third quarter to take control, leading by as many as 20 in the fourth.

Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 28 points.