The Boston Celtics beat the Portland Trail Blazers 102-94 on Monday at TD Garden. Jrue Holiday returned to Boston for the first time since the trade. He got the tribute video and standing ovation. Then his new team lost.
Pritchard scored 23 with an injured pinky
Payton Pritchard hit buzzer-beaters to close both the first and second quarters. He finished with 23 points while playing through a pinky injury. Pritchard has become a reliable scoring option off the bench, and nights like Monday show why Boston values him in the rotation.
18 forced turnovers against 17 committed
The Celtics committed 17 turnovers but forced 18 from Portland. Coach Joe Mazzulla credited the defense for keeping Boston in the game. Jaylen Brown pointed out that holding opponents under 100 points gives the Celtics a chance to win most nights. The turnover battle was nearly even, but the defensive pressure created enough chaos to offset Boston’s own mistakes.
Holiday had 14 points in his return
Holiday received a tribute video and standing ovation before the game. He finished with 14 points and played well in his first game back at TD Garden. The trade that sent him to Portland was about financial flexibility under the new CBA rules. Watching him in a different jersey was a reminder of what Boston gave up, but the Celtics still have enough depth to win without him.
Amari Williams and Derrick White contributed down the stretch
Amari Williams, the rookie center, provided defensive energy and rebounding. Brown added 20 points and eight rebounds. Derrick White made closing plays to secure the win. The contributions came from multiple players, which is why Boston won a game where the turnover numbers were ugly and the opponent had motivation.