Game ID: 22400891
Portland Trail Blazers @ Boston Celtics
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 31 35 36 26 128POR 26 29 27 36 118
BOS vs POR ScoutingBOS vs POR Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BOS availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restBACK Brown back 2/20 after 2, 32 min since (92% of 35)
BACK Holiday back 2/20 after 4, 26 min since (83% of 31)
BACK Scheierman back 2/08 after 7, 5 min since (43% of 12)
NEW Porziņģis 27 to 32 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backBACK Brown back 2/20 after 2, 32 min since (93% of 35)
BACK Holiday back 2/20 after 4, 26 min since (83% of 31)
NEW Porziņģis 27 to 32 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 19 min (105% of 18)
BACK Brown back 2/20 after 2, 32 min since (93% of 35)
BACK Holiday back 2/20 after 4, 28 min since (89% of 31)
BOS availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restBACK Brown back 2/20 after 2, 33 min since (95% of 35)
BACK Holiday back 2/20 after 4, 28 min since (89% of 31)
BACK Kornet back 2/28 after 2, 19 min since (105% of 18)
BOS availability going into 3/05 · 2 days' restOUT Holiday missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Porziņģis missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Scheierman missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Kornet back 2/28 after 2, 25 min since (136% of 18)
BOS availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 3 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Porziņģis missed 3 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Scheierman missed 3 since 2/28, returns tonight: 30 min (257% of 12)
BACK Kornet back 2/28 after 2, 24 min since (132% of 18)
NEW Horford 28 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Hauser 21 to 28 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 4 since 2/28, returns tonight: 35 min (112% of 31)
OUT Porziņģis missed 4 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Kornet back 2/28 after 2, 26 min since (143% of 18)
BACK Scheierman back 3/06 after 3, 30 min since (257% of 12)
NEW Horford 28 to 34 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 5 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/08 after 4, 35 min since (112% of 31)
BACK Kornet back 2/28 after 2, 23 min since (126% of 18)
BACK Scheierman back 3/06 after 3, 30 min since (257% of 12)
NEW Horford 28 to 35 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 6 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Norris missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/08 after 4, 33 min since (107% of 31)
BACK Scheierman back 3/06 after 3, 21 min since (181% of 12)
NEW Horford 28 to 35 min over the last 3
NEW Kornet 18 to 25 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 58 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Grant back 2/20 after 2, 32 min since (100% of 32)
BACK Walker back 2/10 after 2, 18 min since (148% of 12)
BACK Reath back 2/10 after 2, 7 min since (73% of 10)
POR availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 59 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 5 since 2/12, returns tonight: 4 min (33% of 12)
OUT Reath missed 2 since 2/24, returns tonight: 3 min (27% of 10)
BACK Grant back 2/20 after 2, 34 min since (104% of 32)
NEW Walker 12 to 19 min over the last 4
POR availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 60 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 4 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Grant back 2/20 after 2, 34 min since (104% of 32)
BACK Cissoko back 2/28 after 5, 4 min since (33% of 12)
BACK Reath back 2/22 after 2, 7 min since (66% of 10)
NEW Walker 12 to 19 min over the last 4
POR availability going into 3/03 · back-to-backOUT Grant missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 7 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 61 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 5 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Cissoko back 2/28 after 5, 4 min since (33% of 12)
BACK Reath back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (111% of 10)
POR availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 3 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 8 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 62 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 6 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Cissoko back 2/28 after 5, 3 min since (21% of 12)
BACK Reath back 2/28 after 2, 14 min since (136% of 10)
POR availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 4 since 2/28, returns tonight: 24 min (74% of 32)
OUT Ayton missed 9 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 63 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 7 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Cissoko back 2/28 after 5, 3 min since (21% of 12)
BACK Reath back 2/28 after 2, 13 min since (124% of 10)
NEW Sharpe 31 to 37 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 10 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 64 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 8 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Grant back 3/07 after 4, 24 min since (74% of 32)
BACK Cissoko back 2/28 after 5, 2 min since (18% of 12)
BACK Reath back 2/28 after 2, 14 min since (139% of 10)
NEW Sharpe 31 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Walker 12 to 18 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/10 · back-to-backOUT Ayton missed 11 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Avdija missed 2 since 3/07, returns tonight: 41 min (135% of 30)
OUT Thybulle missed 65 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 9 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Grant back 3/07 after 4, 30 min since (92% of 32)
NEW Reath 10 to 19 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 12 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 66 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 10 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 2 since 3/09, returns tonight: 15 min (101% of 15)
OUT Cissoko missed 2 since 3/09, out tonight
BACK Grant back 3/07 after 4, 30 min since (92% of 32)
BACK Avdija back 3/10 after 2, 41 min since (135% of 30)
NEW Clingan 20 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Reath 10 to 18 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 27 and Tatum at 27 a game. Without Holiday (2 straight), Porziņģis (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Simons at 24 and Sharpe at 22 a game. Without Grant (3 straight), Ayton (8 straight), Thybulle (62 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 28 free throws a game to Boston's 16 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-4 a night and Boston minus-2. Call it Boston 115, Portland 112, Portland keeping it close.
2/25 @ TOR 111-101 — BOS notes
BOS won 111-101. BOS shot 47% (44 of 93) to TOR's 51%, 15 of 51 from three, and got to the line 8 times to TOR's 16. Brown led with 24 (10 of 18, 0 of 5 from three); White added 22, Pritchard 20. The hinge was Q1, 35-24: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
2/26 @ DET 97-117 — BOS notes
BOS lost 97-117. BOS shot 41% (33 of 80) to DET's 53%, 21 of 49 from three. BOS turned it over 17 times to DET's 12, and DET turned those into 13 steals. The glass went 32-51 against them. Tatum led with 27 (10 of 19, 4 of 9 from three); Pritchard added 18, White 18. Q2 was theirs, 35-26, the deficit cut from 9 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 91-62 against them. Porziņģis's -24 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/28 vs CLE 116-123 — BOS notes
BOS lost 116-123. BOS shot 48% (43 of 89) to CLE's 48%, 17 of 39 from three. Tatum led with 46 (19 of 37, 4 of 12 from three); Brown added 37, White 16. Q1 was theirs, 38-26, but the other 3 periods went 97-78 against them. They led by as many as 22. Pritchard's -36 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/02 vs DEN 110-103 — BOS notes
BOS won 110-103. BOS shot 47% (37 of 78) to DEN's 48%, 14 of 34 from three, and went to the line 27 times to DEN's 13 — 22 points from the stripe to their 9. Brown led with 22 (6 of 15, 2 of 4 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Horford added 19, White 17. The hinge was Q1, 32-20: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Queta was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
3/05 vs POR 128-118 — BOS notes
BOS won 128-118. BOS shot 46% (45 of 97) to POR's 50%, 23 of 54 from three. The glass went 52-39 for them. Pritchard led with 43 (14 of 20, 10 of 16 from three); White added 41, Brown 18. The hinge was Q3, 36-27: a lead of 11 became 20, and the lead reached 25. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/06 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Brown at 25 a game. Without Holiday (3 straight), Porziņģis (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 123, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Oubre Jr. at 22 and Grimes at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Okeke (10 straight), Lowry (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 112 a night to Philadelphia's 123 and the glass, where Boston has been minus-1 a night and Philadelphia minus-7. Call it Boston 117, Philadelphia 110.
3/08 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 31 and Brown at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Holiday (4 straight), Porziņģis (4 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 29 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and James at 29 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Hachimura (4 straight), Reddish (16 straight), Goodwin (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 29 free throws a game to Boston's 18 and the arc, Boston at 42 percent from three to the Lakers' 35. Call it Boston 113, the Lakers 112, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/10 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 34 and Brown at 27 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Porziņģis (5 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 126, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; George at 21 and Filipowski at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Markkanen (8 straight), Collins (5 straight), Clarkson (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 110 a night to Utah's 126 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 19 times a game to Boston's 11. Call it Boston 122, Utah 110, Boston by 12.
3/12 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 30 and Brown at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Porziņģis (6 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 39 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-4 a night and OKC minus-4. Call it Boston 115, OKC 113, OKC keeping it close.
2/26 @ WAS 129-121 — POR notes
POR won 129-121. POR shot 45% (45 of 101) to WAS's 52%, 12 of 37 from three. Sharpe led with 36 (13 of 26, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Simons added 16, Henderson 16. The hinge was Q1, 34-27: from level to 7 ahead. Henderson was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/28 @ BKN 121-102 — POR notes
POR won 121-102. POR shot 58% (45 of 78) to BKN's 41%, 15 of 36 from three. Sharpe led with 25 (9 of 14, 4 of 6 from three); Banton added 23, Camara 19. The hinge was Q4, 30-20: a lead of 9 became 19, and the lead reached 26. Camara was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
3/02 @ CLE 129-133 — POR notes
POR lost 129-133 in 1 overtime. POR shot 44% (42 of 96) to CLE's 43%, 14 of 40 from three. POR turned it over 19 times to CLE's 13, and CLE turned those into 12 steals. Avdija led with 30 (8 of 13, 1 of 3 from three, 13 of 13 at the line); Simons added 27, Camara 19. Q2 was theirs, 27-18, but the other 4 periods went 115-102 against them. They led by as many as 18. Murray's -15 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/03 @ PHI 119-102 — POR notes
POR won 119-102. POR shot 48% (48 of 99) to PHI's 43%, 11 of 35 from three, and went to the line 19 times to PHI's 13 — 12 points from the stripe to their 9. The glass went 61-43 for them. Simons led with 34 (13 of 26, 6 of 11 from three); Sharpe added 20, Clingan 13. The hinge was Q3, 35-20: POR came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 18. POR trailed 56-61 at the half and won the second half 63-41. Simons was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
3/05 @ BOS 118-128 — POR notes
POR lost 118-128. POR shot 50% (45 of 90) to BOS's 46%, 16 of 40 from three. The glass went 39-52 against them. Simons led with 30 (12 of 21, 3 of 10 from three); Sharpe added 25, Walker 22. Q4 was theirs, 36-26, the deficit cut from 20 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 102-82 against them. Avdija's -21 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/07 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 133 a night and allowing 121, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 36 and Jal. Williams at 25 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sharpe at 25 and Simons at 24 a game. Without Grant (4 straight), Ayton (9 straight), Thybulle (63 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 42 percent from three to Portland's 36 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 14 times a game to OKC's 11. Call it OKC 122, Portland 115.
3/09 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Simons at 24 and Sharpe at 21 a game. Without Ayton (10 straight), Thybulle (64 straight), Williams III (8 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Cunningham at 25 and Beasley at 16 a game. Without Smith (2 straight), Harper Jr. (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Portland wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Portland 115, Detroit 114, Detroit keeping it close.
3/10 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Curry at 30 and Butler III at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Kuminga (30 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 118, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Simons at 28 and Sharpe at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Ayton (11 straight), Avdija (2 straight), Thybulle (65 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-7 a night and Portland plus-0 and the defense, Golden State allowing 112 a night to Portland's 118. Call it Golden State 118, Portland 109.
3/12 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Simons at 29 and Avdija at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Ayton (12 straight), Thybulle (66 straight), Williams III (10 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brunson at 32 and Anunoby at 21 a game. Without Brunson (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 110 a night to Portland's 117. Call it New York 114, Portland 112, Portland keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAH A. Horford
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JW J. Walsh
LK L. Kornet
NQ N. Queta
PP P. Pritchard
SH S. Hauser
PORAS A. Simons
DA D. Avdija
DB D. Banton
DC D. Clingan
DR D. Reath
JW J. Walker
KM K. Murray
SH S. Henderson
SS S. Sharpe
TC T. Camara
BOS/POR the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Pritchard scores career-high 43, knocks down 10 3s to lead Celtics over Blazers 128-118
BOSTON -- — Payton Pritchard scored a career-high 43 points and knocked down a career-best 10 3-pointers to lead the short-handed Boston Celtics past the Portland Trail Blazers 128-118 on Wednesday night.
Derrick White added career highs with 41 points and nine 3s to lead Boston to its eighth victory in 10 games, making Pritchard and White the first Celtic duo to score 40 or more points in the same game and the first duo in NBA history with nine or more 3-pointers each in a game.
With starters Jayson Tatum (shoulder), Jrue Holiday (finger) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) all sitting out, Pritchard picked up the scoring load for a Celtics team that made 23 3-pointers.
The game remained tight throughout the first half, featuring five ties and 15 lead changes. But Boston outscored the Blazers 36-27 in the third quarter.
Anfernee Simons led Portland with 30 points and Shaedon Sharpe added 25.
It was the sixth game of a seven-game road trip for the Blazers, who had won four of their previous five.
Takeaways Trail Blazers: Boston made some changes in its defensive coverage that kept Portland from getting to the rim for most of the night. It forced the Blazers to shoot more jumpers and they couldn’t match the Celtics’ output from 3-point range.
Celtics: Another solid win in which a reserve stepped up and made a significant impact. Having that depth adds to Boston’s chances of repeating as NBA champions.
Key moment After the Blazers cut what had been a 25-point deficit to 124-116 with 2:35 to play, Boston came up with back-to-back stops and made enough free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.
Key stat Pritchard has now connected on five or more 3-pointers in 20 games this season, ranking fourth in the NBA.
Up next The Blazers conclude their seven-game road trip Friday night at Oklahoma City. The Celtics host the 76ers on Thursday night