Final: Celtics 124, Blazers 107 - Brown notches 10,000th point in easy win

BOSTON CELTICS vs PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

6 p.m. - NBC Sports Boston

Line: Boston - 16.5

INJURIES

Boston: Jaylen Brown (QUESTIONABLE AVAILABLE, hand), Jayson Tatum (QUESTIONABLE OUT, knee) Jaden Springer (QUESTIONABLE OUT, knee)

Portland: Malcolm Brogdon (OUT, elbow), Toumani Camara (OUT, rib), Shaedon Sharpe (OUT, abdominal), Anfernee Simons (OUT, tendinitis), Matisse Thybulle (OUT, ankle), Robert Williams (OUT, knee), Jerami Grant (DOUBTFUL, hamstring)

LAST TIME

Celtics 121, Portland 99 - March 11

A balanced attack got Boston a nine-point lead after one, with the Celtics registering 13 assists on 16 makes. Brown and Tatum fueled the second quarter to go into the half up 14. Brown continued to make tough shots to help Boston withstand a Blazers run in the third that ultimately only knocked one point off Boston’s lead. The Celtics pulled away in the fourth behind four 3-pointers by Sam Hauser for the easy win. 

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. Dalano Banton’s revenge: He’s playing 28 minutes a game with seven starts in Portland averaging 16 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. He’s averaging 20.4 per game over his last five, and he’s had two 30 point and two 28 point games since getting to Portland. He’s making the most of an opportunity that didn’t exist in Boston. 

2. More weird lineups: I think Boston will be compelled by the league to play everyone in Milwaukee, so this could be a funky game with a lot of Svi Mykhailiuk minutes. 

3. Get Hauser going: I’m betting he’s chomping at the bit to get shooting again after going 1-13 from 3. After the game, Payton Pritchard said he expects Hauser to come out hot in this one. Let’s see if he’s right. 

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.