Jayson Tatum was on top of his game on Wednesday night and scored 30 points with six 3-pointers, as the Boston Celtics beat the Portland Trail Blazers 115-93 to snap a three-game losing streak.
Tatum’s 36th game this season with 30 or more points helped the Celtics avoid going into four straight defeat Derrick White added 21 points and five assists for Boston. Al Horford finished with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The Celtics played without their big man Robert Williams for the third straight game as he recovers from a strained left hamstring but Tatum and Horford came back after sitting out Monday’s overtime loss at Cleveland nursing a sore knee and back, respectively.
Both were active during an 18-7 second quarter run that gave Boston a 53-35 cushion. The lead grew to 23 points (94-72) at the end of the third and as high as 27 the fourth.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said playing the brand of basketball that had his team at the top of the Eastern Conference standings heading into the All-Star break will be a focus heading down the stretch.
“I think that’s always the goal, no matter how many games are left.,” Mazzulla said. “The great teams stay the best version of themselves the longest. And when you don’t, you have to quickly get back to who you are.”