The Celtics will make their first home appearance since Dec. 2 when the Orlando Magic come to Boston for the first game of a two-game set between the teams on Friday night.
Game 2 will be Sunday, also in Boston.
The Celtics still hold the NBA’s top mark (22-7) after a 4-2 trip that included a victory over Phoenix and losses to Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers. Tuesday’s 122-118 overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers was a positive finish to the Celtics’ long swing.
The message was received as the Celtics improved to 1-3 in overtime games.
After finishing strong out west, Mazzulla’s team will look to build its league lead entering a seven-game homestand to finish the 2022 calendar year.
Center Robert Williams (knee surgery) is expected to be back in Boston’s mix this weekend for the first time this season.
Center Al Horford also is expected to rejoin the Celtics on Friday. He missed three games on the just-concluded six-game road trip while in health and safety protocol, then missed consecutive games at Los Angeles for personal reasons.
Star forward Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 44 points vs. the Lakers, including seven of Boston’s last 12 points in regulation to finish the highest scoring effort ever by a Celtic on the road against the Lakers.
Tatum was just 7 of 20 from the field against the Clippers on Monday, though he did have a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Orlando has had a season full of streaks, as its current run of four wins in a row follows a nine-game skid that spanned more than two weeks.
The Magic will begin a four-game trip after Wednesday’s 135-124 win over Atlanta, which extended the team’s longest win streak since early in the 2020-21 season.
Against the Hawks, Franz Wagner scored 24 points to lead an offense that had a 50-point first quarter, the highest-scoring period in Magic history.
Bol Bol had 21 points, Paolo Banchero added 20 points and six rebounds, and Markelle Fultz finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
