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 Guard Evan Turner's 3-point shot with one second remaining gave
the Boston Celtics a 90-89 victory over the Trail Blazers at the
Moda Center.
Turner said he sought divine intervention as he got the ball at the
3-point arc with an chance to win the game.
"I kind of prayed to make a big shot," the fifth-year pro out of
Ohio State said, "and it happened."
Guard Avery Bradley scored 18 points, and forward Jared Sullinger
added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics, who snapped a
three-game losing streak.
Guard Damian Lillard finished with 21 points, seven assists and six
rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who lost for the fifth time in six
games. Portland guard Wesley Matthews scored 16 of his 18 points in
the second half.
Boston, trailing 89-88, called timeout with 8.5 seconds after
Sullinger rebounded his own missed 3-point attempt. The Celtics
(14-26) inbounded to Sullinger, who had the ball knocked away from
him. In the scramble to retrieve it, Sullinger dived and came up
with it, then rifled a pass to Turner in 3-point range. Turner
buried it.
 "Not to be arrogant, but it was just good rhythm," said Turner, who
contributed 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds. "I was able
to shoot it high enough that it felt good."
Portland (31-13) called a full timeout, then a 20-second timeout,
but Lillard was unable to get off a final shot before the horn
sounded.
The Blazers carried a 72-67 advantage heading into the fourth
quarter and extended it to 84-77 on Lillard's fall-back jumper with
5:35 remaining. Boston outscored Portland 13-5 the rest of the way,
the Blazers shooting 2-for-13 from the field and 2-for-4 at the foul
line.
"We blew it. That's the way I look at it," said Matthews, who went
6-for-15 from the field but was 4-for-8 from 3-point range. "We had
chances. It's easy to look at the last play, but we're going to have
to look back to where we could have broken the game open. Tough
loss."
Portland trailed only 44-42 at the half despite 1-for-10 shooting
from 3-point range. Blazers center Chris Kaman scored 12 of his 13
points before halftime, sinking six of eight shots from the field
before the break.
The Blazers caught fire from beyond the arc in the third quarter,
knocking down seven of 11 attempts.
Matthews sank four consecutive 3-pointers to push Portland in front
56-52 with 6:55 left in the third quarter. Boston rallied to go back
ahead 66-65 on a Bradley drive late in the quarter, but the Blazers
took a five-point lead into the final period.
Sullinger was just glad to be able to help out on the Celtics' final
play.
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"Coach (Brad Stevens) drew up a play for me to drive, but the lane
was clogged up," he said. "(The Blazers) tipped it, and I was able
to dive on the loose ball. I had seen ET wide open. It was a lucky
pass to ET."
Stevens was glad Sullinger didn't attempt to call timeout, because
the Celtics had none remaining.
"He made a really heads-up play and dove on the floor," the
second-year Boston coach said. "The ball always matters, but it
matters more at that point of time. To get a loose ball and kick it
out right to where Evan got the shot was big.
"You felt like it had a chance to go in. That's just kind of the way
the game sometimes plays itself out."
The Blazers were hoping Lillard -- who has made several game-winning
shots in his 2 1/2-year NBA career -- would get another chance at
glory. The Celtics' defense prevented it.
"They zoned it up," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "We ran one
play and they covered it well. (After a timeout), Wes may have been
open, but they zoned it up and did a good job again. With one second
left, it's a tough play.
"We had a chance to win the game. We needed one more play, but we
didn't finish it off."
NOTES: The victory broke Boston's 24-game road losing streak to
Western Conference opponents. The last time the Celtics beaten a
West team outside of Boston was Feb. 25, 2013, at Utah. ... Portland
was without F LaMarcus Aldridge, who will undergo surgery to repair
a torn ligament on the outside of his left thumb and is expected to
be out six to eight weeks. The 6-foot-11, 260-pound Aldridge injured
the thumb while blocking the shot of Sacramento C DeMarcus Cousins
in the second quarter of Monday night's game. Aldridge said the
surgery would take place within the week. ... The Blazers, also
without C Robin Lopez (hand) and C Joel Freeland (back), added
another injury Thursday when F Nicolas Batum left late in the second
quarter after hurting his wrist.
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