Jayson Tatum believes that the Boston Celtics' hard-fought series win over the Orlando Magic was the perfect preparation for the rest of their playoff campaign. 

Tatum had 35 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds to help the Celtics beat Orlando 120-89 in Game 5 to clinch a 4-1 first-round series win. 

The defending NBA champions will play either the New York Knicks or Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. 

The Celtics' 31-point win is the largest by any team after trailing at half-time in NBA playoff history.

It was also Boston's largest victory when trailing at half-time in the regular season or playoffs, though they had to come through a difficult test against the Magic. 

Orlando's physicality was heavily criticised in their series, but Tatum said that there was a sense of satisfaction in beating their opponents in a different way. 

"Yeah, it was probably exactly what we needed," said Tatum. "A good test [for the] first round. A couple guys really banged up and dealing with some things.

"But [just] showing that mental toughness of getting up and getting ready for each game and doing whatever it takes, whatever the game calls for and figuring out a way to win.

"That's all that matters this time of the year. As a group, we've been through it all, and we showed it and proved it this series."

Good night pic.twitter.com/VD51GTBFjK

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 30, 2025

Tatum's display marked his third straight with 35 or more points, tying Larry Bird's 1987 run for the longest streak in Celtics playoff history.

He also joined Bird (1984) as the only players in Celtics history with 35 points and 10 assists in a series-clinching win.

"This season was the most relaxed and carefree that I've been in my career, understanding that we won last year and we accomplished the ultimate goal and you kind of got that monkey off your back," Tatum added.

"So, obviously, the goal is still the same this year to win and compete for a championship, but I've just enjoyed this season of playing carefree basketball and not having that hang over my head. It's been fun to do and just a sense of freedom. I've just carried the season with that.

He continued: "It just kind of allows me to focus on the task ahead. I'm not worried about trying to prove anybody wrong or anything like that.

"Just understanding I know what I'm capable of, I know what we are when we play a certain way. We've shown that. So it's all about getting to that level."

Throughout the series, Boston picked up several injuries, with Tatum injuring his right wrist in Game 1 before Kristaps Porzingis sustained a gash on his forehead in Game 2. 

Jaylen Brown then dislocated his finger in Game 3, while star guard Jrue Holiday sat out his third consecutive game because of a lingering hamstring issue. 

But Brown, who scored 23 points for Boston in their series-clinching victory, believes that his team's experience against the Magic has them well-equipped moving forward. 

"That was a great learning experience for us to go through a full playoff series, having to be physical, having to get in the trenches, rebound, flagrant fouls, play through it, physicality, play through it, and still find ways to win," said Brown. 

"That's one of the challenges people would have said before the season: take away the 3-point shooting, play them physically, and I think we responded well to that [in] this series.

"So that's something that we'll continue to build on, but that's great to have that in our back pocket and take that going forward in the playoffs."