BOSTON — The Celtics’ starting lineup has had its share of highlights this season. The bench got in on the act to help Boston earn its latest victory.
Kelly Olynyk and Marcus Smart scored 16 points apiece as the Celtics won a season-high fifth straight game, beating the slumping Orlando Magic 113-94 on Friday night.
The Magic have lost eight consecutive games and their last 10 regular-season games in Boston.
Jae Crowder and Evan Turner each added 15 points for the Celtics, and Isaiah Thomas had 14 points and eight assists in just 27 minutes of play. It was the bench that stole the show, though, scoring 62 points.
“I thought they were clearly the difference in the game,” Coach Brad Stevens said. “They’re playing well together. Each of those guys is doing a lot right now really to play to their strengths. It’s been good.”
Ignited by Olynyk, who scored nine of his points in the fourth quarter, the Celtics seized control by starting the period on a 22-4 run and pushing their lead as high as 27.
“I think we’re coming together well. This last little bit we’ve played pretty well together I think – the first and second unit,” Olynyk said. “We’ve had that continuity and just getting used to each other and playing together, and really carving out roles.”
Nik Vucevic led Orlando with 14 points and eight rebounds. Shabazz Napier added 13 points.
The Magic struggled offensively all night, committing 16 turnovers that led to 22 points by the Celtics.
Thomas, playing in his first game since being named an All Star, was able to rest in the fourth quarter. He sat out practice Thursday and played Friday on a sore right ankle.
One segment that underscored how bad things were for the Magic came with just over five minutes to play in the third quarter.
With the Magic trailing by six, Victor Oladipo was fouled on a 3-point attempt but missed all three free throws. The final miss ignited a fast break for the Celtics and a 3-pointer by Jae Crowder.
“They’re playing at a level like we were five to six weeks ago,” Magic Coach Scott Skiles said. “They get up, they get into you, they try to make it difficult, and you try to run something (and) they just blow right through it.”
NOTES: The Celtics have scored at least 100 points in 11 consecutive games for the first time since the 1995-96 season. … Thomas becomes the first 5-foot-9 player to be selected for an All-Star game since Calvin Murphy did it with Houston in 1979. “It means a lot. I guess I’m going in the right direction,” Thomas said. “But I’m not satisfied. I expect those things out of myself. I think if you hold yourself to a higher standard, things that happen, you just go with the flow.”
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