BOSTON — Jaylen Brown knocked down a pull-up three to present the Celtics an opportunity to play the bench within the fourth once more. Payton Pritchard prolonged that run to 7-0, securing a 12-point lead that he, Svi Mykhailiuk, Oshae Brissett, Sam Hauser and Xavier Tillman Sr. ready to defend after Tillman saved Boston after a 21-1 collapse on Friday with a game-winner.
They wouldn’t want one this time, regardless of the Blazers staying shut all sport behind 22 offensive rebounds, probably the most allowed by the Celtics since their Mar. 3 collapse in opposition to Brooklyn in 2020 shortly earlier than that season shut down. They didn’t price Boston this time, due largely to 42.1% three-point taking pictures, back-to-back Hauser and Tillman lengthy pictures burying the Blazers by 18 late within the fourth earlier than the Celtics received 124-107. Brown scored 26 on 10-for-17 taking pictures, reaching 10,000 profession factors within the third, whereas White added 15 whereas Pritchard completed 7-of-11 with 16 factors off the bench. Jayson Tatum didn’t play.
The Blazers tortured Boston on the glass nearly instantly, grabbing 16 offensive rebounds within the first half to shatter the 13 Boston allowed within the second half to the Kings on Friday and to Phoenix within the first half final month at dwelling. They obtained three within the first three minutes of the sport to tie the Celtics 5-5 on Ayton’s put again, the primary of his 5 first half offensive rebounds. Six of their subsequent 13 turned immediately into Portland factors because the Celtics may solely construct a 63-56 lead at half.
Dalano Banton got here off the bench and shot aggressively in his return to Boston, taking pictures 6-for-12 within the first half and pouring within the last put again of the second quarter. He shot 3-for-6 from three to point out his offensive enchancment and tossed 4 assists, whereas Ayton led the Blazers scoring effort alongside him with mid-range makes and put backs, posting 12 factors on 6-of-13 taking pictures. The Celtics acknowledged Banton, Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III on the video board, however didn’t do a tribute to any of the three.
“Yeah, I don’t he want he was right here,” Mazzulla mentioned, requested about remorse versus delight in seeing Banton shine elsewhere. “He did an incredible job, however the factor concerning the NBA is the scenario and the chance that you just get. He performed his function and took benefit of the alternatives he obtained for us right here, however he’s getting far more of a possibility there and he’s making the most of that. Only a credit score to his work ethic and I’m comfortable for him.”
The Celtics constructed an 11-point lead halfway by the second earlier than the Blazers’ 40% first half taking pictures minimize that to 4 simply over one minute later. Boston held Portland scoreless on the following seven possessions earlier than Banton led a 7-3 run to maintain the sport shut into the third. Kristaps Porzingis opened that body along with his fifth block, however the offensive rebounds saved flowing earlier than Banton rating 4 factors late to drag the Blazers inside six once more. Brown, Jrue Vacation and White had constructed a 14-point result in start the quarter with a 7-0 run earlier than Portland tied the Pistons, Pacers and Suns with 19 offensive rebounds for probably the most in opposition to Boston in a sport this season. A mark they’d shatter.
Within the third, they’d flip into seven additional Blazers factors. After Portland grabbed its twenty first, Kornet hauled in solely Boston’s third, then White handed to Sam Hauser for 3, giving the Celtics some respiratory room up seven. The bench unit elevated its ball strain within the fourth, retaining Banton off the board whereas holding Portland to 2-for-8 taking pictures whereas forcing three turnovers halfway by the body. Banton reached 28 factors and 9 assists with a move to Kris Murray, a pair of layups and an extended two, however watched as outdated pal Brissett broke away for a pair of dunk contest type slams.
