Magic Johnson paid several compliments to Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics after a dominant Game 4 win

"Coach Joe Mazzulla has his team playing their best basketball at the right time!"

Jayson Tatum going against Kelly Oubre Jr. during Game 4 of the Celtics' playoff series vs. the 76ers. AP Photo/Matt Slocum

By Hayden Bird

April 27, 2026 | 10:28 AM

4 minutes to read

Magic Johnson credits the Celtics: Though he’s a universally beloved figure, Magic Johnson is still a Lakers legend. It makes his effusive praise of the Celtics on Sunday notable.

Following the Celtics’ Game 4 clobbering of the 76ers, the Hall of Fame Los Angeles point guard took to his customarily good-natured social media account to pay Boston several compliments.

“I just witnessed the best all around team performance in the NBA Playoffs so far by the Boston Celtics,” Johnson began. “Their defense was amazing and offensively they made a total of 24 3’s!”

Boston, as Johnson noted, hit 24 3-pointers, which was a team record for the postseason. He also pointed at the success of their stars, though interestingly included Payton Pritchard as one of the “big three.”

“The Celtics big three were fantastic — Tatum had 30 points, Brown had 20 points and Pritchard was the man that had the crowd going crazy with his dynamic 32 points off the bench! Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla has his team playing their best basketball at the right time!”

I just witnessed the best all around team performance in the NBA Playoffs so far by the Boston Celtics in their victory over the Philadelphia 76ers 128-96! Their defense was amazing and offensively they made a total of 24 3’s! The Celtics big three were fantastic – Tatum had 30…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 27, 2026

Johnson’s social media approach has drawn interest over the years for his relentlessly earnest approach (and the behind-the-scenes strategy to his posting). Yet before he was sharing takes on the internet, Johnson was one of the greatest rivals Boston sports ever encountered. He knows better than most what a championship-caliber Celtics team is supposed to look like.

Trivia: Payton Pritchard became the third Celtics player in team history to score at least 30 points off the bench in a playoff game. Can you name the other two to do it?

(Answer at the bottom.)

Hint: One was a two-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner. The other was a member of the 2008 Celtics (and is a former Arizona State Sun Devil).

Scores and schedules:

The Celtics crushed the 76ers 128-96 in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series to take a 3-1 lead. Game 5 is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Boston as the Celtics try to close out the series.

The Bruins had a very different Sunday experience, losing to the Sabres 6-1 in front of the home crowd. Boston now trails Buffalo 3-1 in the series, and faces elimination tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in Game 5 on the road.

The Red Sox won 5-3 in the first game since the shocking news of Alex Cora and other Boston coaches being fired. Tonight, the Red Sox begin a three-game series in Toronto against the Blue Jays at 7:07 p.m.

The Fleet begin the 2026 PWHL playoffs on Thursday, with the Ottawa Charge coming to the Tsongas Center for a 7 p.m. puck drop in Game 1.

Both the Revolution and Legacy FC will play Wednesday games this week. The Revolution host Orlando City at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket in a U.S. Open Cup game at 7:30 p.m. The Legacy face the North Carolina Courage at Gillette Stadium at 7 p.m.

More from Boston.com:

News from the farm: The Portland Sea Dogs put together a combined three-pitcher no-hitter against the Hartford Yard Goats on Sunday in a 3-2 win.

NINTH NO-HITTER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY!! pic.twitter.com/VqpjEezh3A
— Portland Sea Dogs (@PortlandSeaDogs) April 26, 2026

On this day: On 2003, David Ortiz hit his first home run in a Red Sox uniform. With Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez looking on, Ortiz — who struggled initially after signing with Boston as a free agent in the offseason — smashed an opposite field home run in a 6-4 Red Sox win. Pedro Martinez struck out 10, yielding just two runs in seven innings.