BOSTON -- The Trail Blazers started their season by playing a game on the road. Over five months later, they have just one such contest remaining.
The Portland Trail Blazers finished up a seven-game, 15-day road trip with a 124-107 loss to the Boston Celtics in front of a sellout crowd of 19,156 Sunday night at TD Garden.
“I thought we did good. We played hard as hell,” said Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. “We crushed them on the glass, we did a really good job. Offensive rebounds, getting 22, that’s incredible. But we didn’t convert well enough, I thought what really hurt us was just our rim decisions… I thought too many times we shot really poor shots at the rim, we settled for long floaters, long twos. We didn’t do well there.”
The Trail Blazers are now 21-57 overall and 10-30 on the road this season. With the loss, Portland ends the seven-game trip, their second of the season, with a 2-5 record.
“I thought we had a really good trip, I really did,” said Billups. “We was shorthanded a lot of nights, playing eight guys against some really good teams. Had our opportunities right there in Orlando, but they get away and beat us. We win two in a row and then we come here and play a really good game, so I thought it was a good trip for us, I really do. I’m proud of the guys, I think our youngins grew up a little bit on this trip.”
Dalano Banton led all scorers with 28 points on 11-of-23 shooting, nine assists, three rebounds and a steal in 36 minutes in his first game back in Boston since being acquired by the Trail Blazers at the 2024 trade deadline.
“I had a great time here, I learned a lot, got to build a lot of relationships,” said Banton. “Met a lot of great people and I’m going to have a lot of long lasting relationships from here, so I appreciate that.”
Deandre Ayton posted another double-double with 22 points on 11-of-23 shooting, 14 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 35 minutes. Jabari Walker also finished with a double-double with 14 points and 18 rebounds in 34 minutes.
Scoot Henderson added 15 points, eight assists, two steals and a rebound in 36 minutes. Kris Murray added 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal in 25 minutes.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 26 points. Payton Pritchard posted 20 points and eight assists off the bench,.
The Trail Blazers now have three home games this week, starting with a Tuesday night contest versus the Pelicans, before finishing up the season versus the Kings in Sacramento on April 14. Tipoff for Tuesday’s game, which begins a week of Fan Appreciation events, is scheduled for 7 p.m.