The Boston Celtics came out swinging Monday night at TD Garden, landing an early haymaker on the Portland Trail Blazers in what turned into a gritty 102-94 win. That opening burst set the tone, but this wasn’t a wire-to-wire cruise. Portland absorbed the initial punch, responded with toughness, and kept things close thanks in part to a tightly officiated game that sent both teams to the line more than usual.
But when it mattered most, Boston leaned on its calling card: disciplined, detail-oriented basketball. Derrick White’s clutch triple in the fourth quarter served as the dagger, but this win was built possession by possession-on shot selection, defensive pressure, and a commitment to the margins.
Let’s start with the numbers that tell the story beneath the scoreboard. Boston attempted 91 shots to Portland’s 78.
That’s not just a volume stat-it’s an effort stat. It reflects how well the Celtics controlled pace, forced turnovers, and created second chances.
Even with Portland winning the rebounding battle 46-42 and earning 30 trips to the free-throw line compared to Boston’s 18, the Celtics still found a way to control the game by maximizing opportunities.
And that’s what separates this team when it’s locked in. They don’t always dominate the box score categories you’d expect-like rebounding or free throws-but they win the ones that matter most to their identity. Shot attempts, defensive efficiency, and timely execution.
Portland deserves credit for hanging tough. The Blazers didn’t shoot it well from deep-just 25% from beyond the arc-but they stayed aggressive and physical, using the whistle to their advantage to keep the game within reach. Still, Boston’s defense held firm when it counted, closing out possessions and contesting shots without giving up clean looks late.
In the end, it was Derrick White who delivered the final blow, knocking down a big-time three that gave the Celtics the breathing room they needed. But this was a full-team effort, the kind of win that doesn’t always make headlines but builds momentum over the course of a long season.
Boston didn’t just outplay Portland-they outlasted them. And that’s what good teams do.