Even with nothing on the line, the Boston Celtics’ final regular-season contest against the Orlando Magic turned into a surprisingly tense affair — and one that nearly slipped away because of two critical officiating mistakes the NBA itself has now confirmed.
The Celtics entered the April 12 matchup as the locked-in No. 2 seed in the East, meaning head coach Joe Mazzulla had no obligation to deploy his starters. The Orlando Magic, already assured of a spot in the play-in tournament, likewise treated the game as low-stakes. What unfolded instead was an audition for Boston’s bench and young contributors — and a 113-108 victory that looked far more comfortable on paper than it felt in real time.
Leading the charge among the “next man up” group was forward Baylor Scheierman. The rookie delivered a standout performance, pouring in 30 points on 40% shooting while adding seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. His efficiency and all-around impact gave the Celtics’ depth chart a genuine boost heading into the postseason, proving that even without the star power of the usual rotation, Boston’s supporting cast could hold its own.
Yet for all the positives, the Celtics were not immune to the human element that can swing any NBA contest. On Tuesday, the league released its Last 2 Minutes report for the April 12 game, and the findings were unambiguous: officials missed two significant calls that directly affected the outcome and could have handed the Magic a path to victory.
The first error came late in the game when Orlando’s Franz Wagner drove to the basket. Boston forward Dalano Banton wrapped both arms around Wagner’s waist as the Magic star released his shot — a clear shooting foul that was not called. The non-call deprived Orlando of two free throws and potential possession, keeping the Celtics’ narrow lead intact at a moment when momentum was shifting.
The second missed call involved a loose-ball situation during a jump-ball sequence. Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr. reached out and grabbed Scheierman by the left arm and shoulder area, an obvious foul that should have awarded Boston possession and free throws. Instead, the play continued without penalty, allowing the Magic to maintain pressure in a game that was decided by just five points.
These were not marginal decisions. The NBA’s own post-game review labeled both as incorrect, confirming what many watching at TD Garden suspected in the closing minutes: the officials’ mistakes had tilted the floor in Boston’s favor during the most critical stretches.
In the broader context, the result still reflected positively on the Celtics’ depth and resilience. Without their primary rotation, they found a way to grind out a win against a playoff-bound opponent. Scheierman’s emergence, in particular, offers Mazzulla valuable options as the postseason begins. Yet the report also serves as a reminder that even the most secure teams cannot afford to take officiating for granted when the games truly matter.
Should the Magic advance through the play-in tournament by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers, these two clubs could meet again as soon as the first round of the playoffs. If that series materializes, both sides will enter with the knowledge that a handful of overlooked fouls nearly rewrote the script the first time around. For Boston, the near-disaster is now official — and a valuable lesson heading into the games that actually count.