Pritchard’s Clutch Shooting, White’s Late Heroics Push Celtics Past Blazers
On a snowy night in Boston, with fans braving two feet of fresh powder to pack TD Garden, the Celtics gave them plenty to cheer about-starting with Payton Pritchard’s buzzer-beating brilliance and ending with Derrick White’s game-sealing poise.
Pritchard, stepping into the spotlight with confidence, poured in 23 points and delivered not one, but two buzzer-beaters to close the first and second quarters. His first-a deep three at the end of the opening frame-put the Celtics up 32-11 and set the tone for what looked early on like a runaway. Then, just before halftime, he capped a strong first half with a smooth fadeaway in the lane, stretching Boston’s lead back to 15 after Portland had briefly cut it to 10.
Jaylen Brown added 20 points in the win, and White chipped in with 18-none more important than the dagger three he buried in the final minute after Portland had clawed back to within five. On the very next possession, White came up with a critical steal, shutting the door on a Blazers comeback that had suddenly gotten real.
Portland, to their credit, didn’t go quietly. Jerami Grant led the way with 19 points, and rookie big man Donovan Clingan made his presence felt on the glass, pulling down 15 boards.
The Blazers had won four of their last five coming in and had just nudged above .500 for the first time since November. Even after trailing by as many as 23, they kept pushing.
Late in the fourth, Grant drove to the rim for a bucket, drew a foul, and though he missed the free throw, Toumani Camara grabbed the offensive rebound and fed Grant for another layup. Suddenly, it was 99-94. But that’s when White calmly stepped into his three and reminded everyone why he’s become such a trusted closer in Boston’s rotation.
Jrue Holiday, a key starter on Boston’s 2024 title team, was back in the building and received a warm welcome from the Garden faithful. The crowd erupted during his introduction and again after a tribute video played following the first quarter. Holiday, who scored 14 points, was traded this past offseason as the Celtics maneuvered to avoid the harshest penalties of the NBA’s new luxury tax rules.
Also drawing applause was Patriots owner Robert Kraft, fresh off a win that sent his team to the Super Bowl. New Celtics owner Bill Chisholm was courtside as well, repping a sweatshirt honoring Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye-Boston sports pride running deep on a night when the Celtics gave their fans another reason to believe in banner 19.
This wasn’t Boston’s cleanest finish, but it was a gritty, composed win-powered by timely shooting, defensive stops, and a little bit of that Garden magic.