----- Jusuf Nurkic finished with 29 points and 17 rebounds and CJ McCollum scored 24 points as the Portland Trail Blazers topped the Boston Celtics 109-105 Friday night at TD Garden in Boston.
Revenge is a dish best served cold!
After giving up 145 points in a blowout home loss to the Celtics in early December, the Portland Trail Blazers got their revenge Friday night at TD Garden in Boston closing the game on a 20-5 run to down Boston 109-105.
Jusuf Nurkic recorded his fourth-straight double-double finishing with 29 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists. The 29 points was a game-high and he connected on a hook shot with 13.1 seconds remaining to give Portland the lead for good.
Nurkic saved his best for last denying Jason Tatum his effort to turn the corner and drive to the rim. The effort resulted in a contested three-pointer and a missed tip shot by Robert Williams securing the win for Portland.
After the game, Nurkic told Coach Chauncy Billups that he was changing his name to "Mr. Big Shot." A nickname Billups earned during his playing career due to his clutch play.
CJ McCollum scored 24 points and Anfernee Simons finished with 21 points and four assists.
The Blazers connected on 47.4% of their field goals including 16-of-33 from three-point range.
Tatum led Boston with 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Jaylen Brown added 22 points and Robert Williams III pulled down 10 rebounds.
A three-pointer by Nurkic with 9:17 remaining cut Boston's lead to 92-89, but Portland didn't score again for nearly four minutes as the Celtics scored eight straight points.
The Blazers tied it again at 100 with 1:37 left when Nassir Little took a turnover by Williams in for a dunk. Two free throws by Brown put Boston back up by two, but Robert Covington got his first points of the night with a 3-pointer from the corner with 32 seconds left.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers will finish their six-game road trip Sunday in Toronto against the Raptors. The game is scheduled to tip off at 3:00 PM.
Chad's Take- Short-handed Blazers putting together a solid road trip.