There’s a school of thought that an NBA Playoff series doesn’t truly begin until a team wins a game on the road. It is with the sentiment the #7 Orlando Magic settled in at the KIA Center to host the #2 Boston Celtics on Friday night down 0-2. The Magic got started winning as the series has yet to “start” as they outlasted the Celtics, 95-93.

The key to the win was Orlando snagging 15 rebounds on offense compared to Boston’s eight. While the Magic shot a pedestrian 25% from three (eight made in 32 tries), they also held the Celtics to 34 points in the second half. But to expect Boston to have another game with this few points scored would be bold. Here’s some things the Magic need to do that would help them hold home court in the series.

MORE Banchero and Wagner

This might be the easiest and most obvious point. Magic success starts with stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. In the first two games, Bachero averaged 34 points per game as he continued to show himself as a postseason force. Franz is averaging 24  in those same games.

Friday night, Wagner had 32 points while Banchero had 29. More of the same will be necessary to win more playoff games just the way it did in the regular season.

BETTER Third Quarter Play

In Games 1 and 2, the Magic went from being down by three or less to suddenly being down by double-digits heading into the fourth quarter. Third quarter slumps have plagued  The Celtics having one of the NBA’s best rosters is a factor, but hitting only three three-pointers in more of those third quarters combined in 13 attempts while averaging five turnovers is a recipe for letting defending champions pull away for postseason victories.

Game 3 was different in that the Magic were in a bigger hole at halftime down 59-49. A lead that they immediately began to eliminate opening the second half with a 12-3 run. The Celtics hit only one three-pointer in their eight attempts. Not that the Magic were miracle shooters suddenly with only two shots beyond the arc out of the 10 taken, but they didn’t need to right then. The Magic out-rebounded Boston 14 to seven with Wendell Carter Jr. putting up eight of his 10 points. The defending champs scored 11 points while Orlando put up 24.

MORE Pope Connecting From Downtown

It’s not that the Magic’s veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored only nine points in the first two games. It’s the past where he’s hit only two shots beyond that arc out of the 10 he’s tried. Pope is a huge element to their defense, so it’s not as if he isn’t a contribution to the team overall. But with the offensive force that the Celtics can be at any moment in the game, that much missed opportunity can’t come from a guy with the team’s most playoff experience.

In Game 3, Pope missed both of his attempts from three.  But since he didn’t waste as many chances on offense, his game-breaking defense helped the Magic compete. In order to beat the Celtics when they are shooting better, KCP will need to add production on offense.

The Magic hope to extend the series Sunday Night as they host Boston for Game 4 down 2-1.