The Portland Trail Blazers appeared set to once again take advantage of an opponent missing talent to injury.
Out for the Boston Celtics on Sunday were three key stars. Meanwhile, the Blazers welcomed back Anfernee Simons and Donovan Clingan.
None of that mattered, however, and the Celtics demonstrated the difference between a champion and a solid team playing well with a 129-116 victory at the Moda Center.
“They’re just better than we are,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said.
On Wednesday, the Blazers took advantage of Memphis being without Ja Morant and won 115-99. On Friday, Denver played without Nikola Jokic and the Blazers won 128-109, despite Simons and Clingan being ill.
On Sunday, All-Star guard Jaylen Brown, guard Jrue Holiday (shoulder) and center Kristaps Porzingis (illness) were out for Boston. But the Celtics proved to be too deep and too good.
The Blazers did a lot of things correctly. They shot 48.9% from the field and 40.4% from three-point range. They limited turnovers to 12 and outscored Boston in the paint, 48-38.
“I was happy with how we played,” Billups said. “We got some breakdowns in our defense a little bit. They kind of played (Clingan) off the floor a little bit with all the shooting. But, they’re just the world champions. Championship pedigree. I was very happy with how we played in this game today.”
No matter what Shaedon Sharpe (23 points), Deni Avdija (17 points, 11 rebounds), or Toumani Camara (19 points, seven rebounds) did, the Celtics had an answer, and they usually came from beyond the arc.
Boston Celtics v Portland Trail Blazers
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dunks during the first quarter of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on March 23, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)Getty Images
Boston leads the NBA in three-point attempts per game (48.2) and threes made (17.7), and ranks seventh in three-point percentage (36.8%).
They got up 50 attempts against the Blazers and made 23 (46%).
“It’s tough,” Sharpe said. “They’re hoping for threes. They’re running around shooting threes. And it’s not even like it’s at the three-point line. It’s two or three steps back. So, just trying to contest that while chasing them around and trying to contest is tough.”
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 30 points. Sam Hauser scored 24, all from beyond the arc, where he went 8 of 10.
“They put nothing but shooting around and a few guys that can create opportunities,” Billups said.
In the first quarter, Boston went 7 of 15 from three-point range to go up 34-24. The Blazers tied the game at 40-40 after Dalano Banton drove and scored. But Boston came right back and led 64-51 at halftime and then by as much as 18 in the third quarter.
Every attempt by the Blazers to get back into the game was met by another Boston run.
WHAT IT MEANS
The Blazers (32-40) fell to 2½ games behind Dallas (34-37) and Phoenix (34-37), tied for 10th in the Western Conference. Both were off Sunday. On Monday night, The Mavericks play at the Brooklyn Nets (23-48) and the Suns host the Milwaukee Bucks (39-30).
The Celtics (52-19) are pretty much locked in as the second seed for the Eastern Conference in the NBA playoffs.
WALKER RETURNS
Forward Jabari Walker returned after missing four games while in concussion protocol. He didn’t enter the game until the fourth quarter and played five minutes and scored six points with two rebounds.
PRITCHARD GETS HOT
Former Oregon Ducks and West Linn High School star Payton Pritchard overcame early foul trouble to score 16 points with five assists for the Celtics.
Boston Celtics v Portland Trail Blazers
Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics dribbles against Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second quarter at the Moda Center on March 23, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)Getty Images
Pritchard went 6 of 14 from the field and 4 of 9 from three-point range. He went 3 of 5 in the third quarter to help the Celtics build an 18-point lead.
NEXT UP
The Blazers host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)