Celtics Spoil Jrue Holiday’s Emotional Return To TD Garden With Trail Blazers
Boston welcomed back the former NBA champion
The Boston Celtics kicked off a four-game homestand against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night, welcoming back two former Celtics stars to TD Garden.
It was Jrue Holiday’s first game back in Boston since being traded to the Trail Blazers last summer. The Celtics honored him with a tribute video prior to the game.
While he only spent two seasons in Boston, Holiday left quite a mark, playing a key role in the team’s 2024 NBA championship with his tenacious defense, clutch shooting and veteran leadership.
The Celtics also welcome back Robert Williams III, who’s in his third season with Portland after spending the first five years of his career in Boston. While he didn’t win a title, he did help the Celtics reach the 2022 NBA Finals, which they lost against the Golden State Warriors.
While Boston won 102-94, both former Celtics looked right at home. Holiday stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in 24 minutes, reminding Boston fans of his two-way excellence. Meanwhile, Williams chipped in six points, two rebounds, two steals and a block in 20 minutes off the bench.
Despite their efforts, they weren’t enough to help the Trail Blazers avoid defeat. Portland immediately fell behind and trailed the entire game, getting outscored by 21 points in the first quarter. The Trail Blazers managed to chip away and make the score respectable, winning the other three quarters but coming up short.
Payton Pritchard led the way for the Celtics with 23 points, while Jaylen Brown had 20 to go along with eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Derrick White had 18 points, while rookie Amari Williams stepped up with nine points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Boston will welcome back another member of the 2024 squad in Kristaps Porzingis when it hosts the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
