Preview: Maine Celtics at Osceola Magic

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Osceola Magic, holding one of the G League’s top records, will host the surging Maine Celtics in a showcase matchup Sunday at Silver Spurs Arena.

Osceola (26-13) enters with a firm hold on the Eastern Conference standings, while Maine (22-20) looks to continue a positive run that has seen them win three of their last five games. The teams will meet again just two days later on Tuesday.

The Magic are led by versatile forward Alex Morales, who is coming off a 20-point, 12-rebound, five-assist performance in a 113-106 overtime win over Sioux Falls on Tuesday. Over his last seven games, Morales has averaged 15.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists, providing consistent all-around production. He was supported by Phillip Wheeler’s 27-point outburst in the win.

Maine counters with guard Keon Johnson, who recorded a triple-double in his last outing. In a 122-97 rout of Windy City on March 1, Johnson posted 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in just 23 minutes. His recent form includes a 23-point, 10-rebound effort, making him a central figure in the Celtics’ attack. Center Hason Ward (16 points, seven rebounds) was also key in that victory.

The Celtics’ recent results have been uneven, but they secured a notable road win at Delaware on Feb. 21. Osceola has been strong at home, with recent decisive victories over Cleveland and Grand Rapids, but is 2-2 in its last four contests overall.

This game features a contrast in styles: Osceola’s high-powered offense, which has scored 113 or more points in four of its last five games, against a Maine team that held Windy City to 97 points in its latest win. Containing Morales’s multifaceted game will be a primary challenge for the Celtics, while the Magic must account for Johnson’s explosive scoring and playmaking.

Sunday’s contest tips off at 3 p.m. EDT and is the first of a two-game set between the affiliates of the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic this week.