The Boston Celtics looked every bit the defending champs as they defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 129-116 Sunday afternoon at the Moda Center.
Portland had a pretty decent game, shooting 40.4% from three, matching the Celtics rebound for rebound, and keeping turnovers to 12. Yet Boston looked for most of the game that they were on a different level. The Blazers kept the Celtics in touch for the majority of the game with their scrap and good shooting, but it always felt the Celtics were in control in spite of what the scoreboard said. In the end, Boston turned up the volume when they needed to and easily kept the Blazers at arm’s length in the fourth quarter.