Brown Drops 36 as Celtics Outmuscle Magic, Mitchell’s Late Surge Sinks Heat, Rockets Level Series Despite Butler Blow
The NBA playoffs turned up the heat on Wednesday night, with the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers flexing their muscles to take commanding 2-0 leads in their respective series. Meanwhile, drama unfolded in Houston as the Rockets bounced back to even their matchup with the Golden State Warriors, but at a cost — Jimmy Butler suffered a painful injury that cast a shadow over the game.
Boston Celtics 109-100 Orlando Magic – No Tatum, No Problem
The Boston Celtics might be missing their superstar Jayson Tatum, but that didn’t stop them from grabbing a tough 109-100 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round battle.
With Tatum sidelined by a wrist injury suffered in the series opener — his first missed playoff game in 114 appearances — Jaylen Brown stepped up in a big way. The high-flying guard put on a show at TD Garden, dropping 36 points and draining 5 of his 7 shots from beyond the arc.
His latest masterpiece pic.twitter.com/cO3Mnt6XGi
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 24, 2025
The Celtics made it clear from the start that they weren’t going to be pushed around. In a bruising, physical contest, Boston sent a message to the rest of the league — they’re not backing down from a fight.
Center Kristaps Porzingis, who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, took an elbow to the forehead from Goga Bitadze in a third-quarter rebound tussle, resulting in a nasty cut that needed five stitches. Still, the 7-footer returned to the floor like a warrior, bandaged up and ready to battle.
“It was a tough, physical game,” said Porzingis. “Nothing easy on either side. Every rebound is a war and it’s probably going to be that way for the rest of the series. We’re not going to let anybody punk us.”
Orlando made it interesting in the fourth, trimming the lead to five at one point, but Boston held their nerve. Without Tatum, veterans like Al Horford and role players stepped up on both ends to keep the Magic at bay.
Cleveland Cavaliers 121-112 Miami Heat – Mitchell Goes Off in Crunch Time
Donovan Mitchell delivered when it mattered most, scoring 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to push the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Miami Heat, 121-112. Cleveland now holds a 2-0 series advantage as the action shifts to South Beach.
The Cavs had a hot start and led 53-34 in the second quarter, but Miami clawed their way back into it. Tyler Herro was in top form, scoring 33 points and hitting big shots to keep the Heat in the game.
EVERY TRIPLE FROM CLEVELAND’S RECORD-BREAKING QUARTER
The first team since 1997-98 with 11+ 3PM in a single playoff quarter!!!!#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google https://t.co/zxtvRbXkL8 pic.twitter.com/YAxGeUdhjE
— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2025
With just over four minutes left and the score at 101-99, it looked like Miami might complete the comeback. But Mitchell had other ideas. The All-Star guard turned into a one-man wrecking crew, nailing clutch baskets and silencing the Heat’s run.
“It was one of those superstar takes over games,” said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. “He hit some big-time shots.”
Darius Garland added 21 points, while Evan Mobley chipped in 20 to help Cleveland keep their home-court momentum.
Houston Rockets 109-94 Golden State Warriors – Green Ignites, Butler Injured
The Houston Rockets breathed new life into their playoff series by taking down the Golden State Warriors 109-94 at the Toyota Center, tying the series 1-1. Jalen Green exploded for 38 points, lighting up the floor with athletic finishes and deep threes that had the home crowd on their feet.
Alperen Sengun was everywhere, posting 17 points and 16 boards, while Houston’s defense held Golden State’s offense in check. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 20 points but found little help as Houston controlled the tempo.
However, the night took a dark turn early on. Miami star Jimmy Butler, playing through a bruised pelvis from Game 1, took a hard fall after a foul from Amen Thompson. Butler stayed down for several minutes and left the court in visible pain. The team later confirmed it was a pelvis contusion, and he’s scheduled for an MRI to determine the extent of the damage.
Despite the setback, the Rockets were locked in. Their energy and pace overwhelmed a veteran Warriors squad that looked a step slow all game.
“This one was about energy, about hustle,” said Green after the game. “We weren’t going to let them come in here and bully us.”
Game 3 heads to San Francisco, but momentum has clearly shifted. The Rockets have their swagger back, and the series suddenly looks wide open.
Back in Boston and Cleveland, the vibes are different. The Celtics and Cavs have the look of contenders — tough, composed, and built for playoff basketball. With stars rising and tempers flaring, this postseason is already delivering fireworks.
PLAYOFF BRACKET
▪️ Knicks, Clippers take 2-1 leads
▪️ Thunder go ahead 3-0#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google continue Friday on ESPN and NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/sVk7NGk78q— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2025
READ NEXT:
