BOSTON — Damian Lillard had a three-point play with 47 seconds left in overtime Saturday and finished with 28 points to lift the Portland Trail Blazers to a 127-123 victory against the Boston Celtics, snapping their four-game losing streak.
C.J. McCollum scored 35 points for Portland, which lost Friday night in the closing seconds in Philadelphia. Lillard added seven assists.
Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 41 points, his 14th time this season with 30 or more points. Marcus Smart and Al Horford each scored 17 for the Celtics, who have lost two straight after winning 13 of 16.
“We played well. They just made shots, therefore we didn’t get stops,” Thomas said.
“We’re slowly trying to get back to where we were last season, getting that defensive mindset.”
Thomas nailed a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:24 to play in overtime, pushing Boston ahead by one, but Al-Farouq Aminu was fouled on the next possession and hit both free throws to move the Trail Blazers back in front.
Lillard then drove the lane, was fouled and hit the free throw.
Mason Plumlee made a short jumper in the lane and a free throw in the closing 24 seconds.
With Boston trailing by one in the closing seconds of regulation, Lillard went to the line and hit two free throws, making it 113-110 with 10.8 seconds left.
But Terry Rozier’s 3-pointer from the right wing tied it with 8.4 seconds left. Lillard then back-rimmed a long jumper at the horn, sending the game to overtime.
Celtics guard Avery Bradley was out for the second straight game because of a sore right Achilles. He played in one game after missing five because he strained the same Achilles. Forward Jonas Jerebko was out because of an illness.
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