Scheierman goes off to spark improbable Celtics win

On the one hand, Garza’s choice of the 3-pointer was a bit of a surprise.

On the other hand, it was a very clever play that represented the Celtics’ margin-obsessed interest — one of the countless reasons they’re better than expected this year, and one of the countless reasons Joe Mazzola (despite his protests to the contrary) might win Coach of the Year.

“It’s a credit to Luca for having a game there,” Mazzola said, somewhat predictably. “But it allowed us to play situational basketball.”

Garza has shot 43 percent from beyond the arc this season, and was 3-for-6 on Sunday, so his 2-for-1 attempt wasn’t some kind of reckless lob. However, even if he missed, the Celtics only needed the rebound to secure themselves another possession.

Instead, his shot proved to be a dagger.

“It was a great feeling,” Garza said. “Watching it, and feeling the audience as well, was definitely a great moment for me.”

Ron Harper Jr. is a confident scorer

Harper Jr. probably could have had a big night like Sherman if he hadn’t been forced to sit out with less than 37 minutes to play.

Harper was decisive in the first quarter, keeping the Celtics Magic within reach — scoring 12 points in the first 12 minutes en route to a career-high 27. Harper was 10-for-20 from the field and 5-for-12 from deep, burying 3-pointers and getting to the rim with shocking poise and fluidity.

With 6:55 remaining in the fourth, Harper sat out and did not return to the game. He later told reporters that he was cramping up, and in a testament to his overall performance, the Celtics struggled greatly to score without him on the floor.

Sherman and Garza will likely be part of a fringe playoff rotation, but Harper’s three-point shooting could give him an immediate cameo or two.

“This year has been really rewarding,” Harper said. “Just to be able to come back to Boston, get a roster spot, and be a part of a great organization. I feel like that has paid off for me in my career.”

“I’m really grateful to be in this position.”

Maybe the magic was worth it

The Magic have put together a strange turnover.

Desmond Bane played just six minutes before returning in the fourth period and putting Orlando back in the game with a crucial 3-pointer. He scored eight points in 17 minutes.

Franz Wagner sat out for eight minutes before the 11-minute mark in the fourth and looked as if injured, but then returned with three minutes remaining, playing just 26 minutes overall.

Meanwhile, Paolo Banchero played 38 minutes but was 7-for-22 from the floor and 0-for-5 from three.

It’s not entirely clear what the magic was trying to achieve. Did they want to rest their stars (even at the risk of losing home-field advantage in play)? Did they see the Celtics’ rotation and think their available players should be able to handle things?

If so, Sunday’s game could be a rude awakening for a team that could face the actual Celtics in the first round.

“I think coming into the game we expected to go out and compete and win the game,” Sherman said. “I know going into the match was our expectation, and we are happy we won.”

Mazzola expressed his appreciation to the fans

Mazzola said the win was important on two levels.

First, he praised the fans who erupted with Sherman in the third quarter and cheered the victory as if the playoffs had already begun.

“I think the great thing about our fans is that they are smart and know basketball well,” Mazzola said. “Secondly, they care about winning. They care about playing the right way.”

Second, he described the victory as “validation of what we were talking about.”

“It’s very easy if you’re always on a photo shoot or playing the game of stay ready, you can see as if your job is meaningless,” he said. “But they have to stay prepared, because at any moment, as soon as they step on the floor, they are held to the same standards. I think that’s what the guys on the field today are looking for.

“So it’s an affirmation for the staff, but really for the locker room, that they care about winning, they care about playing.”

The calm before the storm

What do we understand from Sunday’s match, in the overall sense of the picture?

Obviously very little. The Celtics rested their entire starting lineup, plus Payton Pritchard, Hugo Gonzalez and Nikola Vucevic for good measure. There was no reason to give Pritchard a chance to score 30 points when he now has that chance every night. There was no reason to give Vucevic extra minutes, because what he really needed was to fit into the rest of the playoff rotation. Garza may continue to take Vucevic’s place in the qualifiers if he faces difficulties, but Sunday’s match will not provide any evidence in this regard.

For the Celtics’ reserve team, Sunday’s game was a chance to stretch their legs and showcase the incredible skills that have gotten them to this point.

For the starters, it was the calm before the storm — a chance to cheer on their friends and teammates who had supported and pushed them over the course of a grueling 82-game season that was now in the rear view, before a brutal postseason loomed.

After 55 wins, Sunday’s game was a short – but much deserved – respite from a very successful regular season.

Now the real test begins.

What’s the next step?

Finally, we find out exactly what the mysterious and exhilarating story of the Celtics has to offer on the big stage.

The Celtics are heading into the postseason as the No. 2 seed, which means we don’t actually know who their first-round opponent will be yet.

However, we do know that the opponent will be either the 76ers or the Magic, who will face off at 7:30pm on Tuesday, which will now, thanks to Sunday’s game, be played in Philadelphia instead of Orlando.