Celtics at Trail Blazers
The Boston Celtics saw their season-best seven-game winning streak end in the opener of a four-game road trip and attempt to bounce back when they face the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. Boston All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas looks to score 20 or more points for the 37th consecutive game as he chases the franchise record held by Hall of Famer John Havlicek (40 in 1972-73).
Thomas recorded 26 points and seven assists in Wednesday's 108-92 loss to the Sacramento Kings - a highly disappointing margin when you factor in Sacramento was without All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins. "They punked us in every way after midway through the second quarter on to the end of the game," Thomas said afterward while calling the setback "probably our worst loss of the season." Portland won five of its last eight games entering a two-game homestand and shooting guard C.J. McCollum continues to excel. McCollum drained the winning basket with 0.9 seconds left in Tuesday's 114-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks and his 32-point outing marked his fifth time over 30 in the past 18 games.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE CELTICS (33-19): Thomas torched the Trail Blazers for 41 points last month in defeat and failed to reach 20 once this season, scoring 18 against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 18. Thomas' drives to the baskets are complemented by supreme long-range shooting as he made at least three 3-pointers in 15 of the past 16 games. Boston reached at least 100 points in 25 consecutive contests before the lackluster effort against Sacramento when it scored only four fast-break points, committed 18 turnovers and shot 39.7 percent from the field.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (23-30): Swingman Evan Turner broke his right hand during the victory over Dallas and is expected to miss 5-to-6 weeks. Turner said he believes the injury occurred when he collided with Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes, and star point guard Damian Lillard isn't looking forward to the long stretch without one of the team's key reserves. "We'll miss him," Lillard told reporters of the former Boston player. "I think what he brings to the table is why we signed him. It's something that it'll be hard to get from one other person, but it'll have to be a collective effort from guys having to step up in his shoes."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Trail Blazers won six of the past eight meetings, including a 127-123 overtime victory in Boston on Jan. 21.
2. Boston SF Jae Crowder missed all six of his field-goal attempts Wednesday and is 4-of-17 over the past two games.
3. Lillard scored 29 points in each of the past two games, making 9-of-18 3-pointers during the span.