Payton Pritchard delivered a night Boston fans won’t soon forget, scoring 23 points and drilling buzzer-beaters to close both the first and second quarters as the Boston Celtics defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 102–94 on Monday night.
Jaylen Brown added 20 points, while Derrick White finished with 18, including a clutch three-pointer in the final minute that helped seal the victory after Portland mounted a late comeback. White also came up with a crucial steal on the Blazers’ next possession, shutting the door on any remaining hopes of a rally.
Boston appeared to be cruising early. Pritchard buried a deep three at the first-quarter buzzer to give the Celtics a commanding 32–11 lead. Portland responded with a strong push in the second quarter, trimming the deficit to 10, but the Celtics again had the final say before halftime. Former Blazer Anfernee Simons knocked down a three, and Pritchard followed with a smooth fadeaway from the lane as the clock expired, sending Boston into the break up 52–37.
The Trail Blazers, who had won four of their previous five games and recently climbed above .500 for the first time since November, refused to go quietly. Jerami Grant led Portland with 19 points, and rookie center Donovan Clingan, a former UConn standout, dominated the glass with 15 rebounds.
Portland made things interesting late, cutting Boston’s lead from as many as 23 points down to just five in the final minute. Grant scored on a drive, was fouled, missed the free throw, and then converted another layup after Toumani Camara grabbed an offensive rebound to make it 99–94. But White answered immediately with a dagger three-pointer, effectively ending the threat.
Jrue Holiday chipped in 14 points for Boston and received a warm reception from the home crowd. The former Celtic, who was part of Boston’s 2024 NBA championship team, was traded last summer as the franchise navigated luxury tax restrictions. He was greeted with a standing ovation following a tribute video after the first quarter.
Despite a snowstorm that dumped up to two feet of snow across the Boston area over the previous 36 hours, fans packed the arena. Among those in attendance was New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who received a loud cheer following his team’s Super Bowl-clinching win on Sunday. New Celtics owner Bill Chisholm was also courtside, sporting a sweatshirt honoring Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
Fueled by timely shooting, defensive poise, and Pritchard’s perfectly timed heroics, the Celtics once again showed their ability to close games—even when the momentum briefly shifts.
