Portland Trail Blazers Win a Thrilling Game Against the Boston Celtics
You hate to see history made in a losing effort, but that’s exactly what went down in the Pacific Northwest on Sunday night. While Jaylen Brown was busy etching his name next to Larry Bird in the record books, the Portland Trail Blazers were busy scraping, clawing, and eventually snatching a 114-108 victory away from the Boston Celtics.
It was a weird one at the Moda Center. You had the Celtics, riding a four-game winning streak and looking like the well-oiled machine we know they can be, facing off against a Blazers squad that had dropped three straight. But as they say in the league, that’s why they play the games.
A Bittersweet Slice Of History For Brown
Brown was absolutely electric, particularly in the first half, where he dropped 27 points like he was playing against a junior varsity squad. He finished the night with 37 points, marking his ninth consecutive game with at least 30. That ties a franchise record set by none other than Larry Legend himself back in 1985.
When you’re sharing a statistical sentence with Bird, you’re doing something right. Brown was talking trash, hitting from deep, and getting to the rim at will. But even with Brown playing like an MVP candidate, Boston just couldn’t shake the Blazers. Every time it looked like the C’s were about to run away with it, Portland punched back.
Trail Blazers Young Core Shows Grit
You have to give credit where it’s due: the Trail Blazers didn’t care about records or streaks. They just wanted a win. Donovan Clingan was a nightmare in the paint for Boston, posting a monstrous double-double with 18 points and 18 rebounds. He was feasting on the glass, giving Portland crucial second-chance opportunities.
Then you had Deni Avdija, who played the role of playmaker to perfection, dishing out 10 assists to go with his 24 points. It was the kind of scrappy, collective effort that gives a rebuilding team hope. They forced Boston into uncomfortable spots and capitalized when it mattered most.
Turnovers and Cold Shooting Doom Boston
If you want to know how you lose a game when your best player scores 37, look at the turnover column. The Celtics coughed up the ball 19 times. You simply can’t be that careless with the rock on the road and expect to win. Some of those turnovers late in the fourth quarter were absolute back-breakers, killing momentum just as Boston tried to mount a comeback.
It didn’t help that the Celtics couldn’t buy a bucket from downtown. They shot a dismal 13-for-44 from 3-point range. When the deep ball isn’t falling, and you’re throwing passes into the third row, you’re leaving the door wide open. The Trail Blazers walked right through that door, hitting their free throws and keeping their composure in crunch time.
An Emotional Return For Anfernee Simons
Amidst the chaos of the game, there was a nice moment for Anfernee Simons. Returning to Portland for the first time since being traded, Simons got a warm reception and a tribute video from the Trail Blazers organization. He finished with 13 points, and while it wasn’t his most efficient night shooting the ball, it was a solid homecoming for a guy who spent seven years growing up in that arena.
Ultimately, this is one the Celtics will want to flush quickly. They head to Utah next, looking to get back on track. As for the Portland Trail Blazers? They proved that on any given Sunday, if you hustle hard enough, you can ruin even a historic night.
