Game ID: 22401034
Boston Celtics @ Portland Trail Blazers
Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM ET
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
POR 24 27 39 26 116BOS 34 30 38 27 129
BOS @ POR ScoutingBOS @ 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.
POR availability going into 3/16 · 3 days' restOUT Grant missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 13 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 67 since 10/23, returns tonight: 6 min (30% of 21)
OUT Williams III missed 11 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 3 since 3/09, out tonight
BACK Avdija back 3/10 after 2, 41 min since (136% of 30)
BACK Murray back 3/12 after 2, 15 min since (101% of 15)
NEW Clingan 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Walker 12 to 18 min over the last 5
NEW Reath 10 to 18 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/17 · back-to-backOUT Grant missed 3 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 14 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 12 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 4 since 3/09, out tonight
BACK Avdija back 3/10 after 2, 38 min since (128% of 30)
BACK Thybulle back 3/16 after 67, 6 min since (30% of 21)
BACK Murray back 3/12 after 2, 16 min since (107% of 15)
NEW Clingan 20 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Reath 10 to 19 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 4 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 15 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 13 since 2/22, not on tonight's roster
OUT Walker missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 5 since 3/09, out tonight
BACK Avdija back 3/10 after 2, 36 min since (119% of 30)
BACK Thybulle back 3/16 after 67, 14 min since (68% of 21)
BACK Murray back 3/12 after 2, 23 min since (153% of 15)
NEW Henderson 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Clingan 20 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Reath 10 to 20 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 5 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 16 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 3 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 6 since 3/09, out tonight
BACK Avdija back 3/10 after 2, 36 min since (121% of 30)
BACK Thybulle back 3/16 after 67, 13 min since (63% of 21)
BACK Murray back 3/12 after 2, 22 min since (145% of 15)
NEW Clingan 20 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Reath 10 to 19 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 6 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 17 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 4 since 3/16, returns tonight: 5 min (37% of 12)
OUT Cissoko missed 7 since 3/09, out tonight
BACK Thybulle back 3/16 after 67, 14 min since (68% of 21)
BACK Murray back 3/12 after 2, 22 min since (144% of 15)
NEW Avdija 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Clingan 20 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Reath 10 to 22 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 7 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 18 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 8 since 3/09, out tonight
BACK Thybulle back 3/16 after 67, 15 min since (73% of 21)
BACK Walker back 3/23 after 4, 5 min since (37% of 12)
NEW Avdija 30 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Clingan 20 to 25 min over the last 4
NEW Reath 10 to 22 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 8 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 19 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 9 since 3/09, out tonight
BACK Walker back 3/23 after 4, 5 min since (37% of 12)
NEW Avdija 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Clingan 20 to 26 min over the last 4
NEW Murray 15 to 20 min over the last 4
NEW Reath 10 to 21 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/30 · 2 days' restOUT Grant missed 9 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 20 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 10 since 3/09, out tonight
BACK Walker back 3/23 after 4, 3 min since (26% of 12)
NEW Avdija 30 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Reath 10 to 22 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 10 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 21 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 11 since 3/09, out tonight
BACK Walker back 3/23 after 4, 3 min since (21% of 12)
NEW Sharpe 31 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Avdija 30 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Clingan 20 to 25 min over the last 4
NEW Reath 10 to 21 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 7 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Norris missed 3 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/08 after 4, 34 min since (109% of 31)
BACK Scheierman back 3/06 after 3, 21 min since (181% of 12)
NEW Horford 28 to 34 min over the last 3
BOS availability going into 3/15 · back-to-backOUT Porziņģis missed 8 since 2/28, returns tonight: 32 min (116% of 27)
OUT Norris missed 4 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Scheierman missed 2 since 3/12, returns tonight: 11 min (93% of 12)
BACK Holiday back 3/08 after 4, 34 min since (110% of 31)
NEW Horford 28 to 34 min over the last 3
NEW Queta 13 to 21 min over the last 3
BOS availability going into 3/18 · 2 days' restOUT Norris missed 5 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Craig missed 2 since 3/14, returns tonight: 8 min (80% of 10)
BACK Holiday back 3/08 after 4, 35 min since (113% of 31)
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 32 min since (116% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 11 min since (93% of 12)
NEW Horford 28 to 34 min over the last 3
BOS availability going into 3/21 · 2 days' restOUT Norris missed 6 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 30 min since (112% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 13 min since (115% of 12)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 8 min since (80% of 10)
BOS availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Brown missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Norris missed 7 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 28 min since (105% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 13 min since (112% of 12)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 4 min since (44% of 10)
BOS availability going into 3/24 · back-to-backOUT Brown missed 3 since 3/18, returns tonight: 26 min (75% of 35)
OUT Norris missed 8 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 28 min since (105% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 16 min since (140% of 12)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 7 min since (72% of 10)
NEW Hauser 21 to 29 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Norris missed 9 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Brown back 3/24 after 3, 26 min since (75% of 35)
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 29 min since (107% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 19 min since (161% of 12)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 7 min since (72% of 10)
NEW Hauser 21 to 31 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/29 · 2 days' restOUT Norris missed 10 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Brown back 3/24 after 3, 27 min since (78% of 35)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 7 min since (70% of 10)
NEW Hauser 21 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Scheierman 12 to 19 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Norris missed 11 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Brown back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (81% of 35)
NEW Hauser 21 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Scheierman 12 to 20 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Avdija at 26 and Simons at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Grant (6 straight), Ayton (17 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 103, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 25 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Brown (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-10 a night and Boston plus-2 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 17 times a game to Boston's 11. Call it Boston 111, Portland 110, Portland keeping it close.
3/16 vs TOR 105-102 — POR notes
POR won 105-102. POR shot 41% (36 of 88) to TOR's 40%, 18 of 50 from three. Simons led with 22 (7 of 15, 6 of 12 from three); Camara added 21, Avdija 19. The hinge was Q2, 33-25: POR came in trailing by 8 and left it level.
3/17 vs WAS 112-97 — POR notes
POR won 112-97. POR shot 42% (42 of 99) to WAS's 41%, 15 of 46 from three, and went to the line 19 times to WAS's 12 — 13 points from the stripe to their 9. POR turned it over 8 times to WAS's 16. Simons led with 30 (10 of 17, 5 of 11 from three); Sharpe added 16, Avdija 15. The hinge was Q3, 30-21: a lead of 10 became 19, and the lead reached 24. Simons was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/19 vs MEM 115-99 — POR notes
POR won 115-99. POR shot 42% (40 of 96) to MEM's 40%, 18 of 46 from three. POR turned it over 17 times to MEM's 10, and MEM turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 65-40 for them. Avdija led with 31 (9 of 18, 5 of 8 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Simons added 22, Sharpe 17. The hinge was Q1, 38-29: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Avdija was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
3/21 vs DEN 128-109 — POR notes
POR won 128-109. POR shot 54% (47 of 87) to DEN's 50%, 14 of 35 from three. Avdija led with 36 (12 of 16, 4 of 6 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Sharpe added 23, Banton 19. The hinge was Q4, 40-27: a lead of 6 became 19, and the lead reached 23. POR trailed 54-59 at the half and won the second half 74-50. Avdija was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
3/23 vs BOS 116-129 — POR notes
POR lost 116-129. POR shot 49% (43 of 88) to BOS's 55%, 19 of 47 from three. Sharpe led with 23 (9 of 16, 3 of 9 from three); Camara added 19, Avdija 17. Q3 was theirs, 39-38, the deficit cut from 13 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 91-77 against them. Camara's -14 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/25 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Avdija at 24 and Simons at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Grant (7 straight), Ayton (18 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mobley at 19 and Mitchell at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-7 a night and Cleveland minus-5 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 15 times a game to Cleveland's 10. Call it Portland 115, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/27 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; DeRozan at 20 and Murray at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Monk (3 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Avdija at 23 and Sharpe at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Grant (8 straight), Ayton (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-7 a night and Sacramento minus-3 and the defense, Portland allowing 111 a night to Sacramento's 119. Call it Sacramento 115, Portland 114, Portland keeping it close.
3/30 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Anunoby at 28 and Towns at 26 a game. Without Brunson (11 straight), McBride (4 straight), Tucker (5 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Avdija at 25 and Sharpe at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Grant (9 straight), Ayton (20 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-4 a night and New York plus-0. Call it New York 117, Portland 112.
4/01 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 120, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Young at 24 and Risacher at 19 a game. Without Johnson (30 straight), Capela (9 straight), Mathews (2 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Avdija at 25 and Sharpe at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Grant (10 straight), Ayton (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 39 percent from three to Portland's 34. Call it Atlanta 121, Portland 114.
3/14 @ MIA 103-91 — BOS notes
BOS won 103-91. BOS shot 43% (36 of 83) to MIA's 45%, 19 of 50 from three. Tatum led with 28 (8 of 21, 5 of 12 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Holiday added 25, White 18. The hinge was Q4, 25-14: a lead of 1 became 12. Horford was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/15 @ BKN 115-113 — BOS notes
BOS won 115-113. BOS shot 52% (44 of 84) to BKN's 47%, 13 of 38 from three, and went to the line 19 times to BKN's 13 — 14 points from the stripe to their 9. Porziņģis led with 24 (9 of 16, 1 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Pritchard added 22, Tatum 20. The hinge was Q2, 33-24: a lead of 3 became 12, and the lead reached 21.
3/18 vs BKN 104-96 — BOS notes
BOS won 104-96. BOS shot 44% (35 of 79) to BKN's 41%, 16 of 48 from three. BOS turned it over 13 times to BKN's 8, and BKN turned those into 9 steals. Porziņģis led with 25 (9 of 13, 1 of 4 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Scheierman added 20, White 18. The hinge was Q4, 33-26: a lead of 1 became 8. BOS trailed 44-49 at the half and won the second half 60-47. Horford was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/21 @ UTA 121-99 — BOS notes
BOS won 121-99. BOS shot 46% (45 of 97) to UTA's 45%, 17 of 51 from three. BOS turned it over 10 times to UTA's 17. The glass went 48-38 for them. Porziņģis led with 27 (9 of 15, 3 of 5 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Tatum added 26, Pritchard 18. The hinge was Q1, 35-21: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Kornet was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/23 @ POR 129-116 — BOS notes
BOS won 129-116. BOS shot 55% (48 of 88) to POR's 49%, 23 of 50 from three. Tatum led with 30 (11 of 24, 1 of 7 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Hauser added 24, White 17. The hinge was Q1, 34-24: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/24 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Monk at 26 and DeRozan at 23 a game. Without Sabonis (3 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 103, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and Porziņģis at 25 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Brown (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 103 a night to Sacramento's 121 and the line, where Sacramento takes 22 free throws a game to Boston's 17. Call it Boston 115, Sacramento 113, Sacramento keeping it close.
3/26 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Booker at 25 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Beal (4 straight), Plumlee (3 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 25 and Porziņģis at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-10 a night and Boston plus-2 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 13 times a game to Boston's 10. Call it Boston 113, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/29 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Vassell at 21 and Castle at 19 a game. One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 102, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 102 a night to San Antonio's 112 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and San Antonio plus-0. Call it Boston 115, San Antonio 111, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/31 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 21 and Bane at 17 a game. Without Jackson (6 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Porziņģis at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to Memphis's 121 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-8 a night and Memphis minus-3. Call it Boston 118, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PORAS A. Simons
DA D. Avdija
DB D. Banton
DC D. Clingan
DR D. Reath
JW J. Walker
KM K. Murray
MT M. Thybulle
SH S. Henderson
SS S. Sharpe
TC T. Camara
BOSAH A. Horford
BS B. Scheierman
DW D. White
JD J. Davison
JT J. Tatum
LK L. Kornet
PP P. Pritchard
SH S. Hauser
TC T. Craig
POR/BOS 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
Celtics extend their winning streak to 5 games with a 129-116 win over Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. -- — Jayson Tatum had 30 points, nine assists and nine rebounds and the Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to five games with a 129-116 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
Sam Hauser shot 8 for 10 from long distance and scored 24 points, and Derrick White added 17 points and eight assists for Boston, which was without Jaylen Brown , Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis . The Celtics (52-19) are five games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the top seed in the Eastern Conference with 11 games remaining.
Shaedon Sharpe scored 23 points for the Trail Blazers (32-40), who are 2 1/2 games behind Phoenix and Dallas in the race for 10th place in the Western Conference.
Tatum’s four-point play early in the third quarter gave Boston a 75-57 lead before Portland rallied. The Trail Blazers closed within seven points, but couldn't get any closer.
Takeaways Celtics: Prichard scored a career-high 43 points against Portland on March 5. The Oregon native is enjoying a career-best season. “I’m just so happy for him,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “... It’s always a big game for him coming back home. But he’s just been outstanding.”
Blazers: Portland said this week center Robert Williams III had arthroscopic left knee surgery. It’s the latest in a string of lower-body injuries for the former Celtics big man. “We all feel so bad for Rob,” Billups said. “He worked his butt off this summer to be ready and he was. ... His voice in the locker room is really huge for us."
Key Moment The Celtics closed the first half on a 21-8 run for a 13-point halftime lead.
Key Stat Eight of the nine Celtics who played made a 3-pointer.
Up Next Boston visits Sacramento on Monday. Portland hosts Cleveland on Tuesday.