Brad Stevens’ decision to start Brandon Bass looked like brilliance early as Bass scored 4 points in his first 3:44 out on the floor. Due to match ups, Stevens went to Zeller for the remainder of the quarter, and Tyler also played well (5 pts, 2 rebs). As a team,the Celtics shot 45% from the floor in the opening stanza and closed the 1st on a 15-5 run. Boston was up 23-19 after 1Q. The Blazers definitely looked like a team that was on the tail end of a back-to-back, turning the ball over 4 times in the 1st and firing quite a few jumpers.
The C’s cooled off a bit in the 2nd (36%) but overall played pretty well. Damian Lillard however was more aggressive, and got the crowd and the Blazers back into the game. Lillard’s 7 points and numerous trips to the FT line sparked a run that put Portland up 42-39 with 1:59 left in the 1st half. Boston countered with another pretty solid quarter, despite 5 turnovers, and were clinging to a 44-42 lead at halftime. The Celts looked good on the defensive end in the first half, including holding Portland to 1 of 10 shooting from trey. Offensively, a very even stat sheet up to this point for Boston-Bass led them w/7 pts, Sully & AB each had 6 and five Celts had 5 points a piece. Behind Chris Kaman, Portland relied much less on the jumper and more on getting to the basket as 14 of their 23 2nd quarter points came in the paint.
Portland got more bad news on the injury front in the 3rd. Nicholas Batum sprained his right wrist and did not return. Didn’t seem to effect the Blazers though, as they found their range and shot 77% from three (7 of 9) and 48% overall. Wesley Matthews torched Boston for 12 points on 4 of those threes. It was Brad Stevens who was telling Boston to finish off the tired Blazers, but instead it was Boston on the ropes. Lots of miscues simply let Portland take control of the game. The C’s turned the ball over 7 times which Portland turned into 10 points. Boston went into the 4th down 72-67.
The Celtics kept this a game through much of the 4th quarter. Damian Lillard did his best to try and snuff out any rally by the C’s, but with 1:56 left, a Sullinger layup tied the game at 87. Sully was fantastic in the fourth, leading a 10-3 Boston run in the final 5 minutes of the game. But turnovers would haunt the Celtics tonight. With 42 seconds left and Boston down 88-87, Avery Bradley fumbled the ball out of bounds while trying to gather for a layup attempt. Portland appeared to be in control. But Boston didn’t panic. With 24 seconds left, a Thomas Robinson FT made it 89-87 Blazers. Boston was then able to grab a big offensive rebound, and with 8 ticks left still had a chance. On the ensuing inbounds play, Jared Sullinger got the ball, but fell down in the key. He stayed calm though, and from his backside kicked it out to Evan Turner who buried a trey with 1 second left. Portland’s final play fell apart, and Boston gets easily their best win of what’s been thus far a lost season. The C’s beat Portland 90-89. The win snaps a 24-game road losing streak to Western conference teams. Yowza. The Celts now head to Denver for tomorrow night’s 9pm EST game with the Nuggets.
The Green:
- Jared Sullinger had 17 points, 9 rebounds and of course the best “from the ass pass” I’ve seen in quite some time. 11 of Sully’s 17 came in the 2nd half.
- Tayshaun Prince had an efficient night. In 23 minutes, Prince scored 9 points on 4 of 5 shooting to go with 3 rebounds an assist and a steal.
- Despite one huge turnover, the C’s don’t win tonight without Bradley’s 12 second half points. His 18 led Boston
- Evan Turner hit the game-winner with one second left and finished with 10 points, 8 asts & 6 rebs. Still not a fan of him playing PG (4 TOs) but oh well.
- Brandon Bass had a double-double of 13 & 10 and also had 5 assists a steal & a block in a starting role. Stevens said post game “He was very physical…did a great job rebounding.”
The Gross:
- Boston turned the ball over 17 times
The Greenlights:
Crowder block
Prince to Bass to Sully:
Sully to Turner game-winner
The Grid: (quick stats)
- Kelly Olynyk rolled his ankle with 7:03 left in the game. Team says he will not be available for rest of the weekend
- Rebounds: BOS 47 POR 45
- Portland shot just 4 of 23 from the field in the 4th Q
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