Celtics star comments on team's 'biggest' win of the year

The Boston Celtics pulled off a 128-111 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday night, improving to an NBA-best 19-5. However, it wasn't an ordinary win in the eyes of star Jaylen Brown. 

After the victory, Brown said he believed the team produced its best effort of the season, considering the circumstances. 

"I think this was the biggest game of the year for us, in my opinion," Brown said via NBC Sports Boston. "One, we had a bunch of guys out on a back-to-back versus a team that's been kicking our a-- the last four or five times we've played."

Brown wasn't wrong. The Magic had gotten the better of the Celtics the previous four times the two teams had matched up, with the last contest coming on Nov. 24, a 17-point Orlando win, 113-96. 

The Celtics entered Friday night short-handed, too, missing big men Kristaps Porzingis (calf), Luke Kornet (adductor) and Al Horford (rest). For his part, Brown was questionable with a right knee injury. Nevertheless, he and the rest of the team powered on. 

Along with Brown (19 points), starters Jayson Tatum (30) and Devin White (19) finished in double figures. However, it was the Celtics bench that came up in the clutch, outscoring the Magic reserves 47-33, led by 21 from point guard Payton Pritchard. 

Pritchard told reporters that without Porzingis and Horford, they had to utilize their team speed more and play "faster." The approach appeared to work as the Celtics outscored the Magic in fast-break points, 18-6. 

The Celtics have now won 13 consecutive games at TD Garden to start the season. More importantly, they proved on Friday they could still get the job done, even at a distinct disadvantage.