Β© Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Celtics Best Trail Blazers in Milestone Night for Jaylen Brown
The Celtics made a living in the paint to start Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers. Whether it was Al Horford blowing by Deandre Ayton for a one-handed flush, Kristaps Porzingis capitalizing on Portland guard Scoot Henderson switching onto him, or Jaylen Brown attacking the basket, Boston consistently manufactured points at and around the basket in the first frame, generating 12 from inside the paint.
But while a Brown three to cap the opening quarter gave the hosts a 30-24 edge after the first 12 minutes, they entered the second period needing to do a better job keeping the visitors off the offensive glass. Portland parlayed six offensive rebounds into eight second-chance points.
The first quarter also featured a salute to former Celtics Robert Williams, Malcolm Brogdon, and Dalano Banton during a pause in the action.
The C's struggles to keep their guests off the glass continued in the following frame as they surrendered nine offensive rebounds and six second-chance points. Those came from a mix of extending possessions after a miss in transition and crashing the glass when operating in the half-court.
Ayton grabbed four of his five offensive rebounds in the second quarter, helping the Trail Blazers secure 16 in the first half -- 19 is the most Boston's allowed this season. They converted those into 14 second-chance points. Ayton entered halftime with nine rebounds, pacing all participants.
But with Payton Pritchard providing eight points off the bench, leading a second-unit spark that included Xavier Tillman Sr. maneuvering his way into crevices around the basket, making himself an available outlet for points at the rim, and Portland's defense often playing the role of Swiss cheese, the Celtics outpaced their guests 33-32 in the second frame.
While Banton came off the bench and was a force in transition, drilled 3/6 attempts from beyond the arc, and entered intermission with 16 points, leading all scorers, Brown paced Boston with 15. Porzingis and Pritchard chipped in ten.
Porzingis also had four rejections and two steals in the first 24 minutes, including teaming up with Tillman to host a block party in the second period.
Boston got outshot by 18 in the first half but still entered the break leading 63-56.
Thirty-two seconds into the third frame, on a play where Brown got the ball on a dribble-handoff with Porzingis, the latter screened twice for the two-time All-Star, who came storming downhill, going from right to left, knifed through the defense, and laid the ball in to reach 10,000 career points.
While the Trail Blazers continued extending possessions, turning five offensive rebounds in the third quarter into seven second-chance points, the Celtics held the visitors to 43.5 percent shooting from the field, including 3/10 (30 percent) from beyond the arc.
And with Brown pouring in 11 points, Derrick White contributing nine, and the hosts, led by their All-NBA wing and Sam Hauser knocking down a pair of threes, outscored Portland 8-4 to close the period, taking a 93-85 advantage into the last 12 minutes.
Like in Friday's 101-100 win over the Sacramento Kings, Joe Mazzulla trusted Boston's bench to, in Sunday's case, play the entire final frame.
With just over five minutes left, Tillman swallowed up a Henderson layup attempt, leading to a Pritchard breakaway basket at the opposite rim. The Celtics followed that up with another stop and a Hauser three. Tillman then banked in a three from the right wing, stretching the run to 8-0 and extending the C's edge to 112-94 with 4:14 left.
That, plus multiple thunderous throwdowns by Oshae Brissett, helped Boston seal a 124-107 victory and extend its home win streak to 13.
The Celtics are now on to their final road game this season, a Tuesday night tilt vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. That matchup will tip off at 7:30 EST.
Further Reading
Xavier Tillman on Game-Winning Shot vs. Kings: 'Knew it was Good'
Celtics' Assistant Likely Candidate for Hornets' Head-Coaching Vacancy
Jaylen Brown Shares What's Fueling Career Year: 'Nothing in This World Gonna Break My Spirit'
Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented
Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'
Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot
Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans
Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'
Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'
Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'
