BOSTON — Playing away from Kia Center on the second night of a back-to-back, nothing was going to come easy for the Magic without Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs against Boston on Sunday.

Then in the hour leading up to tip-off, Orlando learned it would also be without centers Wendell Carter Jr. (left ankle sprain) and Goga Bitadze (sore left ankle).

Missing three regular starters, Jamahl Mosley‘s squad fell to Boston 138-129 inside TD Garden during the team’s first trip back to the arena where its season ended last year in the first round of the playoffs.

“I loved our team’s fight,” Mosley said following the nine-point loss that snapped a 3-game winning streak for a Magic team that had won nine of their last 12 contests after opening the season 1-4. “These guys just continued to battle.”

The Celtics (9-8) overwhelmed the Magic from distance when they shot 45.4% from 3 after reserves Anfernee Simons (23 points), Josh Minott (16) and Sam Hauser (14) each made at least 2 long-range shots in the first half.

Orlando (10-8) rallied late behind the play of rookie Jase Richardson (18 points) and third-year pro Jett Howard (career-high 30), who combined for 42 in the second half, but was unable to complete the comeback when All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown ended with 35.

The Magic travel to Philadelphia for a crucial NBA Cup contest Tuesday on NBC.

Starting 5

Anthony Black and two-way center Orlando Robinson joined the starting lineup alongside Wagner, Bane and Tristan da Silva, the latter of whom has filled in as of late for Banchero.

Bitadze was originally announced as the starting center but was a late scratch just minutes before the game began.

Wagner got to the free throw line early and often when he shot 5 for 8 from the charity stripe. The Magic forward, who didn’t attempt a 3 until the third quarter, ended with 15 points in 28 minutes.

Bane saw a streak of 37 made consecutive free throws come to an end but he was able to drive for 18 points and dish out 5 assists.

Black (14 points) missed his first four shots from the floor but responded with a pair of triples in the second frame.

“There was moments of it,” Mosley said when asked about the team’s fatigue when playing its third game in four nights. “But at the end of the day, we’ve got a job to do and we’re not going to make excuses for whatever happens on the court.”

Second-quarter swing

After the Magic trailed by just 5 points following the first frame, the Celtics found success from beyond the arc and took control of the contest.

Boston shot 5-for-7 from 3-point range, racked 14 of its 19 first-half fastbreak points and outscored Orlando 48-30 in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, the Magic shot 3-for-11 from distance, gave up 7 points off 3 turnovers and got to the free throw line just 6 times in the second quarter compared to 13 in the first.

Bench boost

The Magic turned to their pair of two-way players and younger players in a search for impact against the Celtics.

Robinson had been active only one time before Sunday for the Magic and made his 17th career NBA start. He scored 5 of the team’s first 11 points when he made his first 3. But the 6-foot-11 center ended with 7 points and 3 rebounds in 13 minutes.

Two-way forward Jamal Cain checked into the game late in the first quarter and made a baseline jumper for his only lone points.

Meanwhile, Howard (who shot 5 for 13 from 3) scored 22 of his 30 points during the fourth quarter. It tied for the fifth-most in a single quarter in franchise history, the team said.

“It just shows the depth of our unit,” Howard said about the game. “It shows toughness, too. We just kept rolling, especially in the fourth. Everybody was determined.”

Rookie watch

Richardson and second-rounder Noah Penda saw plenty of action at Boston.

Penda posted an efficient third quarter when he made all five of his shots from the floor in the frame, including two 3-pointers  and a driving dunk on which he converted an and-one opportunity.

His 13 points marked first double-digit scoring game of his career and he added 8 rebounds along with 4 assists in 23 minutes.

Richardson drove to the basket well early and held his own on defense before he added a trio of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. Sunday also marked the first time of his young career he ended in double figures.

“Just being patient,” Richardson said about his mindset. “Getting in a game like this, you want to try to go out and show what you can do but you also don’t want overdo it.”

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com