The Portland Trail Blazers faced a daunting task taking on Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the Boston Celtics on Friday night. The Celtics field enough firepower to obliterate Portland’s defense. Absent Damian Lillard and Norman Powell, the Blazers can’t return the volley in kind.
Lacking the ability to blow out the opponent, the Blazers held on long enough to make the game a coin flip, then won it. Three-point shooting (and the lack of same for Boston) kept them in the match. Portland shot an amazing 16-33, 48.5% from the arc. Then, when it came to crunch time, Portland kept their heads as Boston crumbled around them.