The Boston Celtics look to extend their winning run to five games when they visit the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Coming off a 125-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls on October 30, the Celtics bring a 4-1 record into this first of two consecutive road games.
The Celtics are on a hot streak. Their recent form shows four wins and one loss, with the sequence reading WWWWL from most recent to earliest. That lone defeat was a 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons on October 20. Since then, they've strung together impressive victories, including a 125-124 nail-biter against the Brooklyn Nets and a dominant 134-99 win over the Bulls. This strong start has them positioned well early in the NBA season.
Boston's starting five of Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, and Mitchell Robinson has been consistent. But for this game, Mitchell Robinson is listed out for rest, making Neemias Queta the probable starting center. Rookie Devin Carter remains sidelined with mononucleosis, diagnosed after he missed the final three preseason games. The Orlando Magic have significant injury woes. Paolo Banchero (ankle), Jonathan Isaac (knee), and Jalen Suggs (knee) are all out, alongside Izaiyah Nelson and Noah Penda.
The probable starting matchups present intriguing battles. At point guard, Derrick White will face rookie Jase Richardson. Jordan Walsh draws the tough assignment of guarding sharpshooter Desmond Bane on the wing. The marquee matchup is at power forward, where Jayson Tatum will be guarded by Franz Wagner. With Robinson out, Neemias Queta's paint presence against Wendell Carter Jr. will be important for Boston's rebounding and interior defense.
The Celtics hold a historical edge, with a 79-58 all-time record against the Magic. Playing in Orlando has been tougher, however, as Boston is 27-40 on the road in this series. Last season, the Celtics won three of their four meetings, splitting the games in Orlando. This is the first of four matchups this season, with the next coming in Boston on November 16. The Magic have undergone changes, firing coach Jamahl Mosley and hiring former Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney. They also added former Celtic Nikola Vucevic on a one-year deal.
This game kicks off a challenging stretch for Boston. Immediately after, they travel to face the Houston Rockets on Monday in the second leg of this back-to-back. They then host the Milwaukee Bucks before a road trip through Charlotte, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Toronto. Fans can track the upcoming schedule on our schedule page. For Orlando, this begins their own back-to-back, as they host the Washington Wizards on Monday before a West Coast trip. Both teams will look to manage minutes and health in this early-season test.
