Former Trail Blazer Anfernee Simons (left) battled Caleb Love for a loose ball.
Former Trail Blazer Anfernee Simons (left) battled Caleb Love for a loose ball.Amanda Loman/Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Celtics have soared in the Eastern Conference this season by limiting their mistakes, playing efficient basketball, and winning with precision. Sunday’s matchup with the Trail Blazers was a rare clunker from a team that’s been consistent with execution.
With a chance to rally in the final minutes, Jaylen Brown committed two turnovers near center court because of defensive pressure and then botched their the Celtics’ final offensive play in a 114-108 loss at the Moda Center.
The Celtics entered with the fewest turnovers in the league but committed 19 Sunday, good for 18 Portland points. Brown led the Celtics with 37 points but he got little help. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard were a combined 8 for 26 and 5 for 18 from the 3-point line.
In total, the Celtics were 13 for 45 from the 3-point line. Portland, second to last in 3-point percentage, was 18 for 51 and got several key threes in the second half. Shaedon Sharp led Portland with 26 points, tying his season high with five 3-pointers.
Former UConn standout Donovan Clingan scored 18 points with 18 rebounds for Portland, including the dagger rebound and putback with 22.4 seconds left. The Celtics had trouble keeping him off the boards all night.
Neemias Queta opened the third period with a bucket for a 10-point Boston lead but the Celtics lost command as the Blazers responded with a 14-2 run and Toumani Camara later followed with a pair of 3-pointers for an 80-74 lead. Brown had 32 points through three periods but he wasn’t getting much help. His teammates were a combined 19 for 55 shooting with White and Pritchard combining for 14 points on 5 for 20 from the field.
Anfernee Simons helped out with a scoring spurt late in the third period but the Celtics still trailed, 86-85.
Brown ended a 27-point first half with a stepback 3-pointer in the face of Portland’s Kris Murray, then took an elongated path back to the locker room, screaming at the Portland crowd as he walked off the floor. He then had words for Camara, who had multiple brushes with Brown in the first half.
In one instance, Camara fouled a streaking Brown on a layup and Brown held his balance by pushing Camara into the basket stanchion. Later, Brown drove past Camara and pulled up for a jumper, with his back hitting the trailing Camara in the face. Brown made the jumper and Camara picked up the foul.
Still, after Yang Hansen’s 3-pointer, the Blazers led, 41-34, before Portland native Pritchard nailed a three to begin a 17-4 run. Rookie Hugo Gonzalez contributed with a backcourt steal and layup and White followed with a 3-pointer.
Brown followed by scoring 14 of the Celtics’ final 19 points of the first half as the game became more contentious.
After jumping out to a 14-5 lead and looking as though they weren’t going to toy with a lesser opponent, the Celtics spent the rest of the game going back and forth, trading turnovers, 3-pointers, and trash talk.
Clingan tallied 11 points and five rebounds in the first eight minutes and the Blazers knocked down seven first-half 3-pointers to stay close. Portland hurt its cause with 16 first-half turnovers, five from Deni Avdija and four from reserve Caleb Love.
Sunday also marked the return to Portland for Simons, the former Blazer received a tribute video in the first quarter. He knocked down his first shot and scored 5 points in the first half.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.