NBA: Celtics cruise past Trail Blazers

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, right, shoots over Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson,left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Monday, March 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

PORTLAND, Oregon — Jaylen Brown scored 27 points, Jayson Tatum added 26 and the Boston Celtics beat the Portland Trail Blazers 121-99 on Monday night in the NBA despite the absence of two key starters.

Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were sidelined with injuries for the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics, who have already clinched a playoff spot with 18 games remaining in the season.

Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 15 rebounds for the Blazers, who are second-to-last in the West.

Boston, which has won an NBA-leading 21 games on the road this season, pushed its lead to 20 points in the third quarter.

Sam Hauser’s 3-pointer with 8:40 to go in the game put Boston up 101-83, and his step-back 3 made it 115-95 and sent Portland fans streaming for the exits. Hauser finished with a season-high six 3-pointers and 22 points.

Holiday, who had 15 points in a 117-107 victory at the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night, had a sore left knee, while Porzingis missed his second straight game with a tight right hamstring.

Even without them, the Celtics led by as many as 17 points in the first half. Ayton’s floater got Portland within 56-47 and Anfernee Simons added a 3-pointer to close the gap to six points.

Tatum dunked to put Boston back up 62-50 as the Celtics went on a 10-2 run to lead 66-52 at the half. Brown led all scorers with 17 points.

Tatum, the Celtics’ leading scorer, was listed as questionable going into the game with a right ankle issue, but started for Boston. Tatum had 29 points at Phoenix. Brown and Derrick White also played after being listed as questionable for the first night of a back-to-back.

Jerami Grant, who missed Portland’s 128-118 win over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night with a sore hamstring, was back in the starting lineup. The minutes restriction on rookie Scoot Henderson because of an adductor injury was also lifted and he also started.

NEXT SCHEDULE:

Celtics: Visit the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.

Trail Blazers: Host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.