Studs, Duds After Shorthanded Celtics Extend Win Streak Vs. Blazers
Playing a second consecutive game without Jaylen Brown and not having Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis on the second night of a back-to-back, the Boston Celtics extended their win streak to five with their 129-116 triumph against the Trail Blazers on Sunday.
Boston improved to 52-19 on the season with a best-in-NBA 28-7 road record, while Portland fell to 32-40.
Here are the biggest studs and duds after Boston’s win at Moda Center.
STUDS
Jayson Tatum
Tatum put on the cape in the second half and concluded a plus-16 in 37 minutes. He scored 30 points (11-for-24 from the field) and added nine assists and nine rebounds all while he stuffed the stat sheet with one block and one steal.
Sam Hauser
Hauser was lights-out as he was shot 80% from long range (8-for-10) en route to 24 points. Hauser benefited from good looks on kick-out passes and made the out-of-position Portland defense pay.
Boston’s depth guys
We can file the rest under here, right? Playing without three starters, the Green still had six players finish with double figures. Derrick White (17), Payton Pritchard (16), Al Horford (14) and Luke Kornet (13) all helped shoulder the load as Boston finished with 31 assists to nine turnovers. It was Boston’s fourth-best offensive rating of the season, again, despite being without three starters.
DUDS
Um… the Trail Blazers?
You almost have to feel bad for the Trail Blazers. They got to face Boston at home, on the second night of a back-to-back, and shot 48.9% from the field and 40.4% from deep. But the hosts, who remain in the play-in mix, still lost the game by double figures.