The Boston Celtics didn’t wait for drama on Monday night. They created distance early, then managed the finish. A ferocious first quarter set the tone in a wire-to-wire 102-94 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at TD Garden. The Celtics jumped to 29-17 with the result; Portland slipped to 23-24 after entering with four wins in five.

Payton Pritchard took center stage with 23 points and two perfect punctuation marks — buzzer-beaters to end each of the first two quarters. Jaylen Brown chipped in a steady 20 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Derrick White scored 18, including the late corner three that sealed it. Jrue Holiday added 14 on a night that carried extra emotion for the Garden crowd.

How the Celtics’ fast start broke the game open

Boston’s opening 12 minutes were all business. The Celtics stuffed the Blazers’ offense, built a 32-11 lead, and made Portland’s first-quarter shots feel like coins flipping off a rim. The Blazers went just 4-for-21 from the field and 1-for-12 from three. That’s 19% shooting overall and 8% from deep.

It wasn’t just contested looks. It was pace, boards, and quick decisions. Boston’s guards pushed the ball. The wings cut hard. The bigs walled off the paint. Once the lead swelled to 23, the Celtics had the cushion they needed to manage runs without panic.

“That first-quarter defense looked like a playoff preview.”

Payton Pritchard’s spark turns into the night’s headline

Pritchard’s timing was perfect and cruel for Portland. His buzzer-beaters at the end of the first two quarters weren’t just fun highlights — they were emotional gut punches. Each one blunted any hint of momentum for the Blazers and sent the Garden roaring into the break.

Beyond the big shots, Pritchard kept popping into pockets of space, cutting without the ball, and finishing in rhythm. He played with pace, yet under control. For a Boston team that has been searching for steady second-unit scoring in spots, this was exactly the sort of lift that forces opponents to guard the full 48.

Brown’s balance, White’s dagger, and help from everywhere

Jaylen Brown did a bit of everything. His 20-8-5 line tells the story — smart drives, quick reads, and physical work on the glass. He also showed edge. In the third, Brown picked up a technical after a brief tussle with Toumani Camara. It didn’t derail Boston; if anything, it sharpened the focus.

Derrick White was steady all night and cold-blooded when it counted, burying a late three that iced the game. Jrue Holiday contributed 14, mixing drives and spot-ups, and felt the love from fans who remember his role starting for Boston’s 2024 NBA championship team.

Amari Williams added a strong 26-minute shift with 9 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. Those numbers mattered. His rim protection and extra possessions helped Boston navigate Portland’s push in the second half.

“Pritchard didn’t just score — he changed the energy in the building.”

Trail Blazers rally, but the hole was too deep

To Portland’s credit, the visitors didn’t fold. After the 32-11 burst, the Blazers outscored Boston across the next three quarters (26-20, 28-23, 29-27) and cut the deficit to five late in the fourth. Jerami Grant led with 19 points, while Donovan Clingan swallowed the glass with 15 rebounds. That work on the boards and second-chance scoring kept the door cracked.

The story, though, was the first quarter. Without that 21-point gap, this had the feel of a coin-flip game. The late-run Blazers forced Boston to execute, and the Celtics answered with White’s three, timely stops, and enough composure to finish.

Emotion in the Garden: Jrue’s ovation and a Time Lord return

Sometimes the night is about more than the box score. Jrue Holiday, a starter on Boston’s 2024 title team, got a big hand at introductions and a standing ovation after a tribute video. He was traded last summer to help the Celtics avoid heavy luxury tax penalties, but the connection clearly remains. The applause said it all.

Across the floor, Robert Williams III — back in Boston for the first time since being traded — logged 19 minutes for Portland and finished with 6 points and 2 rebounds. It was a quick reminder of the lob finishes, shot blocks, and bounce that made him a fan favorite here.

“Holiday’s tribute hit different — once a champion here, always family.”

Numbers that frame the result

• Final: Boston Celtics 102, Portland Trail Blazers 94
• Quarter-by-quarter (POR-BOS): 11-32, 26-20, 28-23, 29-27 — Totals: POR 94, BOS 102
• Boston record: 29-17
• Portland record: 23-24
• Key Celtics: Pritchard 23 (two buzzer-beaters), Brown 20-8-5, White 18 (late 3), Holiday 14, Williams 9-7-2 blk
• Key Blazers: Grant 19, Clingan 15 reb
• First-quarter shooting (POR): 4/21 FG, 1/12 3PT

What it means for both teams

For Boston, this is the blueprint. Start fast, defend with force, and let depth finish the job. The Celtics led from the jump, extended to a 23-point cushion, and when the game tightened, they had multiple answers — Pritchard’s shot-making, Brown’s strength, White’s calm, and a helpful push from Williams. It reads like a team win because it was one.

For Portland, the fight-back carries value, even with the loss. The Blazers had been playing well (four wins in five), and the second-half charge showed resilience. But the margin for error is small on the road against good teams. Monday proved how a shaky 12 minutes can undo 36 solid ones.

When you look back, two images linger: Pritchard beating the horn — twice — and White’s dagger from the corner. Add in an emotional salute to Jrue Holiday and the familiar bounce of Robert Williams III, and you had a night that felt like Boston basketball: fast start, big noise, and a steady close.

There was no doubt about the winner. The only question is how often Boston can bottle this script. If the early defense and bench burst travel, the Celtics will keep stacking results like this one.