Celtics extend their winning streak to 5 games with a 129-116 win over Trail Blazers

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Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

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Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) drives to the basket as Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket as Portland Trail Blazers center Duop Reath (26) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

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CORRECTS CAPTION TO SECOND HALF FROM FIRST HALF - Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe (17) shoots over Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

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CORRECTS CAPTION TO SECOND HALF FROM FIRST HALF - Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket as Boston Celtics forward Baylor Scheierman (55) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

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Boston Celtics forward Baylor Scheierman (55) drives to the basket as Portland Trail Blazers guard Matisse Thybulle (4) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

By ERIK GARCÍA GUNDERSEN

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jayson Tatum had 30 points, nine assists and nine rebounds and the Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to five games with a 129-116 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

Sam Hauser shot 8 for 10 from long distance and scored 24 points, and Derrick White added 17 points and eight assists for Boston, which was without Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. The Celtics (52-19) are five games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the top seed in the Eastern Conference with 11 games remaining.

Shaedon Sharpe scored 23 points for the Trail Blazers (32-40), who are 2 1/2 games behind Phoenix and Dallas in the race for 10th place in the Western Conference.

Tatum’s four-point play early in the third quarter gave Boston a 75-57 lead before Portland rallied. The Trail Blazers closed within seven points, but couldn’t get any closer.

Takeaways

Celtics: Prichard scored a career-high 43 points against Portland on March 5. The Oregon native is enjoying a career-best season. “I’m just so happy for him,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “... It’s always a big game for him coming back home. But he’s just been outstanding.”

Blazers: Portland said this week center Robert Williams III had arthroscopic left knee surgery. It’s the latest in a string of lower-body injuries for the former Celtics big man. “We all feel so bad for Rob,” Billups said. “He worked his butt off this summer to be ready and he was. ... His voice in the locker room is really huge for us.”

Not PARSE.LY: Jayson Tatum

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, center, drives to the basket as Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 24, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Jayson Tatum injured in Celtics’ 113-95 win over Kings

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) attempts a 3-point basket as Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan, center, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 24, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Celtics star Tatum leaves game against Kings after taking hard foul

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) during an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

3-point flurry helps Pacers beat Timberwolves

Key Moment

The Celtics closed the first half on a 21-8 run for a 13-point halftime lead.

Key Stat

Eight of the nine Celtics who played made a 3-pointer.

Up Next

Boston visits Sacramento on Monday. Portland hosts Cleveland on Tuesday.

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