Goga Bitadze had knocked the Celtics big man to the floor, earning the Orlando forward a flagrant foul and Porzingis a gash over his left eye. But Porzingis looked defiant as he absorbed the scene surrounding him. A couple of stitches and a little blood were a small price to pay for the experience.

The win was all the more impressive in a game that never felt in danger of being lost despite the absence of Jayson Tatum.

BOSTON — Before the Orlando Magic left Florida to begin their first-round playoff matchup against the Boston Celtics, they felt they had learned valuable lessons last spring about the mental side of an NBA postseason series.