Boston Celtics (49-14, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (18-45, 14th in the Western Conference)
Portland, Oregon; Monday, 10:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Boston will try to earn its 50th victory of the season when the Celtics visit the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Trail Blazers have gone 10-22 in home games. Portland ranks last in the Western Conference recording only 23.0 assists per game led by Jerami Grant averaging 2.8.
The Celtics are 20-11 on the road. Boston is the Eastern Conference leader with 47.2 rebounds per game led by Jayson Tatum averaging 8.5.
The Trail Blazers are shooting 44.1% from the field this season, 0.8 percentage points lower than the 44.9% the Celtics allow to opponents. The Celtics average 16.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 4.6 more made shots on average than the 11.6 per game the Trail Blazers give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Anfernee Simons is averaging 22.9 points and 5.5 assists for the Trail Blazers. Dalano Banton is averaging 14.0 points over the last 10 games.
Tatum is averaging 26.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown is averaging 24.4 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 3-7, averaging 107.7 points, 44.6 rebounds, 24.3 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.4 points per game.
Celtics: 8-2, averaging 122.4 points, 45.9 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 7.0 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 51.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.4 points.
INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Deandre Ayton: day to day (hand), Jerami Grant: out (hamstring), Malcolm Brogdon: out (elbow), Scoot Henderson: day to day (adductor), Robert Williams III: out for season (knee), Jabari Walker: out (hip), Shaedon Sharpe: out (abdominal).
Celtics: Kristaps Porzingis: out (hamstring), Neemias Queta: out (knee).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
