Nineteen months after beating the Dallas Mavericks together in the 2024 NBA Finals, Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday shared a court as rivals rather than teammates.
Brown’s Boston Celtics hosted Holiday’s Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night at TD Garden. It was Holiday’s first time facing his former team since being traded to the Trail Blazers last summer.
Not surprisingly, Holiday received a warm reception from his former fans, teammates and coaches. The 35-year-old guard is one of the most respected and popular players in the league.
The Celtics also welcomed back Robert Williams III, who was traded to Portland after the 2022-23 campaign. Monday’s game was his first time facing his former team as well.
Brown played multiple seasons with both, so it was strange for him to see them in enemy uniforms. He still holds them in high regard, however.
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“Two great guys, two great people. On the floor, but off the floor as well,” Brown told reporters after the game. “Jrue has a great family. And Rob is just a great dude…Still a little weird to see them on the other side.”
Surprisingly, Boston has continued to play at a championship level without them, going 29-17 this season and ranking second in the Eastern Conference.
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The Celtics beat the Trail Blazers on Monday, leading for the entire game en route to a 102-94 victory. Brown settled for 20 points against Portland’s tough defense while also contributing eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Holiday did a little bit of everything with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block, excelling on both ends of the floor. Williams also played well with six points, two rebounds, two steals and a block in 20 minutes off the bench.
Brown will see another old teammate on Wedneday when Boston hosts the Atlanta Hawks and Kristaps Porzingis on Wednesday night.
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Featured image via Paul Rutherford/USA TODAY Sports Images
