Boston Celtics aim to slow streaking Portland Trail Blazers

BOSTON – The Boston Celtics will be looking for another productive National Basketball Association (NBA) game from their non-starters when they face the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on March 5 (March 6, Singapore time).

The NBA champions, who have been without Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Jrue Holiday (hand) for their last two games, had a 28-11 advantage in bench points when they beat the Denver Nuggets 110-103 at home on March 2.

That came two days after Boston’s bench was outscored 33-6 in a 123-116 defeat by the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers.

Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta were the Boston reserves who had the biggest impact in the win over the Nuggets. Pritchard had 11 points, Hauser added eight and Queta contributed eight points and 10 rebounds.

“For us to be a great team, they have to play that way and it’s a great thing,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said.

“I was talking to Payton the other day, and he’s such a competitor. He took ownership on making sure when he’s in the game, that line-up really impacts winning. And I knew (against Denver) he was going to put us in position to do that.”

Queta is averaging 5.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game this season.

“Just very professional,” veteran centre Al Horford said of Queta.

“Neemi, just sticking to his preparation, his routine. Even if he’s not playing, you see him here, same energy, working, and just staying ready for the opportunities. Him being able to defend the perimeter, protect the paint, get rebounds, just staying ready and just taking advantage of the opportunity.”

The March 5 game will be the sixth stop on a seven-game road trip for Portland.

The Trail Blazers have won four of the first five games on the trip,