Rondo-less Boston Celtics cruise past struggling Portland Trail Blazers 96-78: NBA Recap
Jeff Green came off the bench to score a season high 19 points as Boston Celtics dropped the Portland Trail Blazers 96-78 here at the TD Garden, on the night when Rajon Rondo missed his first of two games due to suspension. Jason
Terry posted 17 points, while Courtney Lee played the role of point guard and finished off with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for the night.
LaMarcus Aldridge once again led the Trail Blazers with a game high 23 points to go along with 8 rebounds; Meyers Leonard came off the bench to post 11 points while J.J. Hickson chipped in with 11 points for the losing team.
“We wanted to come out and just focus on the defensive end to make sure we got stops. We didn't give up any easy buckets and so I think we started off and threw the first punch." said Courtney Lee.
Portland outscored the Celtics in the second half, but the advantage Boston had piled in the first one carried them to victory. In the absence of their star play maker, the Celtics upped their defense as they allowed Blazers to
score only 33 points in the first half that gave Boston a 23 point lead at the interval.
Brandon Bass made a jumper early in the first period to put the Celtics up 7-1. Portland were sluggish in the start and the Celtics took full advantage of them as they raced to a 17-7 lead. Lee tipped one in moments later to maintain
their 10 point advantage on 19-9, before the Blazers pulled back a few and reduced the deficit to 18-25 by the end of the period.
Boston got off a flying start in the second quarter, going for a 9-0 burst that put them up 34-18. Portland reduced the deficit by four before the Celtics again sprang back with a 7-0 run that pushed their advantage to 41-22. They
kept on piling the lead and a Paul Pierce shot from downtown opened up a 25 point lead later in the period. Celtics went into locker room holding a comfortable 23 point lead.
Portland managed to outscore the Celtics in the third period by 26-19 but the damage had already been done in the first half. Kevin Garnett made a fade away jump shot to put the Celtics up 69-43 at one stage, before Portland closed
the period powerfully, slashing the deficit down to 59-75 by the end of it.
Boston never really looked in trouble in the final period. They were up 88-67 with 4:44 minutes left on the regulation and eventually went on to win by 96-78.
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