Preview: Trailblazers Travel to TD Garden as Celtics Ride Momentum of Historic Win
Soobum Im | USA TODAY Sports
Boston is coming off their most electric win of the season as they overcame a 32-point deficit to beat the Spurs 143-140 on Friday night. They will now take on Damian Lillard and the Portland Trailblazers in hopes of extending their winning streak to three.
HOW TO WATCH
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
Time: 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Channel(s): NBC Sports Boston
PLAYER STATS
Lillard is having a spectacular season this year, putting up 28.3 points a night to go along with 4.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists. CJ McCollum is his second in command, averaging 22.9 points a game. The dynamic duo is backed up in the scoring column by Norman Powell (16.9) and veteran Carmelo Anthony (13.6). Portland’s bigs are also playing well. Former Celtic Enes Kanter is putting up 11.7 points and 11.4 rebounds a night, while Jusuf Nurkic is averaging 10.9 points and 8.5 rebounds.
Jayson Tatum is fresh off of a historical performance vs San Antonio. He put up 60 points, tying Larry Bird’s franchise record. Tatum leads the league in scoring over the last five games, putting up 38.0 points a night on roughly 51-47-82 shooting splits. Despite his poor performance last game, Jaylen Brown has been solid recently as well, averaging 28.5 points a night in the last five games. Rookies Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith have also been stellar, combining for over 20 points a night over that same stretch.
RECENT GAMES
The Trailblazers have been slipping lately, losing six of their last ten games. They are currently on a three-game win streak but had lost ten of their prior 13 games. Portland is 35-28 this year, good for seventh in the Western Conference.
The C’s have now won two in a row after their miraculous comeback vs San Antonio. They are 34-30 on the season and are tied with the Heat for sixth in the Eastern Conference. Boston has won six of their last ten games despite suffering tough losses to Charlotte and Oklahoma City.
INJURIES
Portland’s injury report is nearly spotless. Zach Collins is the only player listed, but he has been out all season with an ankle injury.
The Celtics only have one player listed on their injury report as well. Kemba Walker is doubtful for tomorrow’s game as he continues to deal with a left oblique strain.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Unlike the Spurs, the Trailblazers take a ton of threes. They rank second in the NBA in that category at 41.4 per game. Boston took on the Blazers not too long ago and they shot 39.5% from deep. Regardless of the fact that the C’s scraped out a win, perimeter defense has to be a top priority. Lillard will pull up from anywhere, so defenders beware.
Boston has done an amazing job of getting to the paint in their last two games. The Blazers are one of the worst defensive teams in the league, so running an effective offense would help the C’s secure a win. Tatum and Brown have to remain aggressive while also getting everyone else involved.
Lastly, the Trailblazers are bottom ten in the league in rebounding. Tristan Thompson (and Aaron Nesmith) have been killing it on the offensive glass lately. If they can keep up that same energy, the Celtics should generate a ton of second-chance opportunities.
PREGAME SHOW
Make sure to tune in to our live pregame show, “The Banner Town Build Up.” We are live 30 minutes before every Celtics game @GuyBostonSports on YouTube and Facebook. See you there at 7:00 p.m. (EST) tonight!
