Final: Celtics 121, Blazers 99 - Brown, Tatum combined for 53 in easy win

BOSTON CELTICS at PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

10:30 p.m. - NBCS Boston/NBA TV

Line: Boston -11.5

INJURIES

Boston: Kristaps Porzingis (OUT, hamstring), Jrue Holiday (OUT,  knee), Svi Mykhailiuk (OUT, personal reasons)

Portland: Malcolm Brogdon (OUT, elbow), Robert Williams (OUT, knee), Jerami Grant (QUESTIONABLE, hamstring), Shaedon Sharpe (OUT, abdominal surgery), Jabari Walker (OUT, hip), Justin Minaya (QUESTIONABLE, illness)

NOTES

• Portland has lost 12 of their last 15 games

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. Dalano Banton’s revenge: I say that tongue in cheek because going to Portland is the best thing that happened to Banton this season. He has been playing big minutes, and he’s put up 30 and 25 points over his last two games. 

Still, no matter how good the breakup was for both sides, you always want to look your best to make your ex feel like they made a mistake. So watch for Banton’s game tonight. I look forward to the “why didn’t this kid get minutes?” comment. 

2. Bench production: They had a rough night in Denver but made up for in Phoenix. Let’s see them build on that by stepping in for Porzingis and Holiday and producing. 

3. Early punch: The Portland/Utah back-to-back is one of the worst combination of games in the league. So if I was in that locker room and leading a group of professional basketball players, I’d make it a point to come out strong, bury the other team as quickly as possible with great execution, build the lead as high as possible as quickly as possible, and get as much rest I can before getting on that plane. 

It’s not always as easy as that, but man it would be great for them if it goes that way. 

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.