The National Basketball Association: A league many children dream of reaching, but in which only the great end up playing. Every year, the NBA produces exhilarating games to fill the fans’ needs of an amazing performance. The players display their unworldly skills for the world to see, and no game fails to impress. One team in particular has been turning heads: the Boston Celtics.
Despite facing adversity with their star player Jayson Tatum missing extended time from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in last season’s playoffs, the team has been performing at an impressive level. Currently, their record is 30 wins and 18 losses, and they sit at number three in the Eastern Conference rankings. While most teams take a big hit from losing a star player, the Celtics have not, as other players have stepped up to accumulate wins.
The Celtics recently battled the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, January 25, 2026, and pulled away with a victory. The Trail Blazers are in the Western Conference and currently have a losing record, but are not a team to take lightly. They are spearheaded by Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant, and former Celtic Jrue Holiday.
In Tatum’s absence, the Celtics are led by Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White. Jaylen Brown has had a breakout season, averaging thirty points per game, as has Pritchard, who is averaging seventeen points per game and has been a key player on the offensive front. Newly acquired Anfernee Simons has also provided a boost to the roster.
Before the game started, Jrue Holiday received a tribute for helping the Celtics win a championship in 2024, something all sports fans can appreciate. Sophomore Colin Patterson had this to say, “Holiday was a big part of our winning squad and it is nice to see him playing, even for the other team.” As the game proceeded, the Celtics looked dominant at the beginning of Monday’s game, winning the first quarter 32-11, Pritchard capping it off with a signature buzzer-beater. The Trail Blazers did not quit, however, and won the next three quarters, but it was not enough. Pritchard hit another buzzer-beater to end the second quarter to go up 52-37. After Portland continued to close the lead in the third quarter, the fourth quarter was electric.
The Trail Blazers erased a previous twenty-three-point deficit, and Jerami Grant made it 99-94 Celtics after a smooth take to the basket in the fourth quarter. He then made another layup, but then Derrick White hit a dagger three-pointer to ruin Portland’s comeback. The Celtics, despite late Portland efforts, escaped with a 102-94 win. Pritchard poured in twenty-three points to lead the Celtics in scoring, and Brown added twenty more to lead the Celtics in scoring. Derrick White added eighteen and the winning three-pointer. Jerami Grant had nineteen points for Portland, and former UConn star Donovan Clingham grabbed fifteen rebounds. Holiday added fourteen points against his former team.
The Celtics are no strangers to adversity, and they continue to handle it well. Playing without a superstar can be challenging, but they welcome the challenge. With a great win against a tough Portland team, they are a threat in the league. Despite Portland’s record, they have all the pieces necessary to put together a winning season. The two teams battled hard, and fans hope to see more exciting games like these. Sophomore Aidan Holmes said, “Watching this game was exciting and had my full attention the entire time.” The National Basketball Association does a great job, and as the season continues, the games will only get better.
