Celtics Face Magic in NBA Cup Showdown Despite Key Absences

The Boston Celtics are set to face the Orlando Magic in their second Emirates NBA Cup game of the 2025-26 season on Friday, kicking off a three-game road trip. The game will be played at Amway Center, with tip-off scheduled for November 7, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET. The Celtics currently hold a 4-5 record and sit at the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference. Their previous Cup outing saw them edge out the Philadelphia 76ers, 109-108, while the Magic will be making their Cup debut this season. Boston will be without four players for this matchup. Six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum remains sidelined with a right Achilles tendon injury, an absence likely to stretch across most or all of the season. Backup big man Xavier Tillman is unavailable due to personal reasons. Two-way rookies Amari Williams and Max Shulga continue to play with the Maine Celtics in the G League. Despite roster changes and injuries, Jaylen Brown has stood out as the team’s leader, providing stability amid uncertainty (Boston Celtics on Twitter). On the Orlando side, reserve center Moritz Wagner is still rehabbing an ACL injury. Wagner, who averaged a career-best 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds last season, was re-signed by the Magic for one year despite his limited availability. The rest of the Magic roster is expected to be available for this clash. Historically, the Celtics have had the upper hand in recent matchups. In the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Boston eliminated Orlando with a commanding 120-89 win in Game 5, closing out the first-round series 4-1 (Celtics 120-89 Magic – ESPN). That performance highlighted Boston’s depth and playoff experience. Looking ahead, this NBA Cup game offers Orlando a chance to test themselves against a perennial contender, while Boston aims to solidify its position despite key absences. The Magic, led by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, will look to reverse recent trends and assert themselves in front of the home crowd. Fans can follow live stats, player lineups, and detailed box scores on Sofascore as both teams vie for an important early-season win.