Blazers Hold on Late, Beat Celtics 97-92

The strong road trip continues for the Portland Trail Blazers. Portland is now 4-0 on their seven-game roadie with tonight’s win in Boston, 97-92.

The Celtics made a push late to make the game close, but Marcus Smart cost Boston a chance to win.

Smart helped spurn Boston back into the game with 10 points in the fourth, but when the Celtics needed a bucket he launched an ill-advised three.

The Smart shot missed, and the rebound was outlet to C.J. McCollum and then Damian Lillard, who laid it up to go up seven.

Portland enjoyed a 10-point lead to enter the fourth, but within two minutes the lead was down to two. Boston never held a lead in the last frame and was, at best, within five in the final 90 seconds.

Lillard led the way for Portland with 33 points, and he also collected seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Moe Harkless finished strong again with 17 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. The double-double is the first for Harkless since the 2016-17 season.

Jusuf Nurkic and McCollum each hit double digits as well with 17 and 14 points, respectively.

Portland will head North of the border for a battle with the Toronto Raptors. The Blazers won the previous matchup 128-122.

Notes:

• Lillard, Harkless, Nurkic and McCollum combined for 80 of Portland’s 97 points.
• Portland has won five straight games; going back to the last game before the All-Star Break (129-107 vs. Golden State).

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