So much for the no-Kyrie grace period, and the two games of easy winning margins that followed.
Left without their all-star point guard for the third straight game Sunday, this time the Celtics sweated it out until the buzzer, before an Al Horford step-back jumper provided salvation and a 97-96 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Celtics survived 41.2 percent shooting thanks to the biggest shot of the season from Horford, who walked off the floor with a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double.
"This group has a lot of heart," said Horford. "We're all about hard work and we really had to grind this one out.