Celtics at Trail Blazers
The Boston Celtics are putting up stronger efforts lately but are still unable to snap a lengthy skid. The Celtics will look to avoid an eighth straight setback when they finish up a five-game road trip at the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. Boston was crushed by the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets in the first two stops on the trip but battled the Los Angeles Clippers and came within one basket of knocking off Golden State on Friday.
The Blazers had lost four of six and were on the verge of another setback before coming to life in the fourth quarter of a 110-94 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The surprise team of the first two months of the season ran into some trouble at the defensive end for a few weeks but came through on that end while outscoring Orlando 39-19 in the fourth quarter on Wednesday. “It’s funny, offense starts to click when you do everything else right,” guard Wesley Matthews said. “When you’re helping, when you’re rotating, when you’re stunting, when you’re rebounding, when you’re boxing out, hitting the floor, when you’re checking cutters, talking on defense. When you take care of all that stuff, then everything else starts to flow.”
TV: 10 p.m. ET, CSN New England (Boston), KGW (Portland)
ABOUT THE CELTICS (13-24): Boston lost on a jumper by Stephen Curry in the final seconds on Friday but still came out of the game feeling good about the team. “The morale is great, as you can see,” forward Jared Sullinger said. “We lost seven straight and guys are still fighting out there. Guys are still trying to make plays. Guys are together. It’s not like we’re pulling apart.” Sullinger was one of the reasons the Celtics were in the game at the end against the Warriors as he broke out of a lengthy slump with 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (27-9): Portland has been one of the top teams in the West all season and is adjusting to its role as favorite. “We’ve still got to get better at it,” Matthews said. “If we weren’t going to get every team’s best shot before, we’re definitely going to get it now.” Three of the last four losses have come against sub-.500 teams, and coach Terry Stotts is hoping to avoid similar letdowns in the future. “It’s important for us to play with an edge,” Stotts said. “Look, teams get up for everybody. I know that it’s important for us to play with an edge and I’ve said before, playing like we have something to prove.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Trail Blazers are 13-0 when holding opponents under 100 points.
2. Portland has taken two straight in the series, including a 109-96 triumph in Boston on Nov. 15.
3. Boston F Kris Humphries made his second straight start on Friday and responded with 16 points and 14 rebounds.