BOSTON (AP) — Payton Pritchard scored 23 factors, hitting buzzer-beaters to finish every of the primary two quarters, and Jaylen Brown added 20 on Monday night time to steer the Boston Celtics to a 102-94 victory over the Portland Path Blazers.
Derrick White scored 18 factors, making a 3-pointer after Portland reduce what had been a 23-point deficit to 5 within the remaining minute. White additionally stole the ball on the Blazers’ subsequent possession.
Jerami Grant scored 19 and former UConn star Donovan Clingan had 15 rebounds for the Blazers, who had received 4 of their earlier 5 video games to briefly climb above .500 for the primary time since November.
Pritchard hit a protracted 3-pointer on the first-quarter buzzer to present Boston a 32-11 lead. Portland reduce the deficit to 10 earlier than ex-Blazer Anfernee Simons made a 3 and Pritchard hit a fadeaway shot from the lane as time ran out within the half to make it 52-37.
Portland made it 99-94 within the remaining minute after Grant drove for a basket, acquired fouled, missed the free throw after which made one other layup off Toumani Camara’s offensive rebound. However White’s 3-pointer successfully ended the risk.
Jrue Vacation, who was a starter on Boston’s 2024 NBA championship workforce, acquired an enormous hand when he was launched earlier than the sport and a standing ovation following a tribute video after the primary quarter. Vacation, who scored 14 factors, was traded away last summer because the Celtics tried to keep away from the penalties for going over the second apron of the NBA’s luxurious tax.
Additionally getting an enormous cheer from the group that braved a snowstorm that dumped as a lot as two ft of snow on the Boston space over the earlier 36 hours was New England Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft, whose workforce beat Denver on Sunday to advance to the Tremendous Bowl. New Celtics proprietor Invoice Chisholm was in his courtside seat in a sweatshirt honoring Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
Up subsequent
Portland performs at Washington on Tuesday night time.
The Celtics host Atlanta on Wednesday night time as they proceed a five-game homestand.
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