1. In years past, it would be hard to look at a 116-115 finals score and call it a “gritty” win, but that’s what this was for Boston. Portland led for most of the first half, and a couple of times in the second half it looked like the Trail Blazers were poised to bury the Celtics.
As they have done so often in the last few weeks, Boston kept their composure, showed some fight and won the game.
Giving up 115 points isn’t any sort of marker of defensive greatness, but the Celtics made enough plays on that end when it mattered.