Trail Blazers 109, Celtics 96
BOSTON -- The Portland Trail Blazers just had too much for the Boston Celtics on Friday night.
The Trail Blazers, with forward-center LaMarcus Aldridge leading the way, opened a four-game road trip with a 109-96 victory over the Celtics, Portland's first win in Boston since 2004.
Aldridge had 27 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth straight double-double as the Blazers ended a nine-game TD Garden losing streak and improved to 7-2 this season.
The Celtics, losing their second straight after a four-game winning streak that included a road win over the Miami Heat, fell to 4-6 under first-year coach Brad Stevens.
Portland guard Mo Williams and forward Nicolas Batum scored 18 points apiece. Batum had six assists and five rebounds, and scored 10 points in the third quarter.
Guard Damien Lillard scored 17 points as the Blazers spoiled a career-high 26 points (and eight rebounds) by Boston forward/center Jared Sullinger.
Sullinger, who missed a game with a bruised knee, came off the bench and played 36 minutes, going 11-for-18 from the floor.
Forward Jeff Green added 14 points for Boston but made just 4-for-11 shots from the field.
The Trail Blazers came in shooting 42.2 percent from 3-point range, leading Stevens to point to it as a key. And it was the 3-pointer that gave Portland its six-point halftime lead. The Blazers had hit only two in the first 24 minutes but made three of them late in the half.
They hit two more in the first 5:07 of the third quarter to lead by seven and finished the night with nine treys while going 20-for-22 from the foul line.
Celtics rookie center Kelly Olynyk was in foul trouble almost immediately and was limited to 6:29 in the first half. He started the second half with three fouls and got his fourth 29 seconds into the third quarter before departing again.
Olynyk played 15 minutes and had two points and two rebounds. He came into the game averaging 8.7 points and 6.0 rebounds.
NOTES: F-C Jared Sullinger returned for the Celtics after missing a game with a bruised knee. Coach Brad Stevens said he was ready to get Sullinger "right back in there" off the bench and Sullinger entered 4:28 into the game after rookie C Kelly Olynyk picked up two quick fouls. Sullinger had eight points and two rebounds by the end of the first quarter. ... The Trail Blazers began a four-game road trip that continues Sunday in Toronto and goes on to Charlotte and Brooklyn. The Celtics play the next three on the road, visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night before hitting Texas for games at Houston and San Antonio. ... Portland F-C LaMarcus Aldridge, who often lives in double-double territory, had just two in 12 career games against Boston coming in.
