Turner's Last-Second 3 Gives Boston 90-89 Win Over Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. — Evan Turner hit a 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds left and the Boston Celtics overcame the shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers 90-89 on Thursday night.

Avery Bradley had 18 points to lead the Celtics, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Jared Sullinger added 17 points and nine rebounds.

Damian Lillard had 21 points and seven assists to lead the Blazers, who have lost five of their last six as they struggle with injuries to their front line.

Wesley Matthews missed one of a pair of free throws to give the Blazers the edge, and a turnover gave Portland the ball on the other end. But the Blazers struggled to score and settled for Thomas Robinson's free throw to lead 89-87 with 26.6 seconds left.

Turner hit the 3-pointer for the lead, and Lillard couldn't get a shot off before the buzzer.

The Blazers were hit before the game with the news that three-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge had torn a ligament in his left thumb and would need surgery.

The 6-foot-11 power forward is expected to miss from six to eight weeks.

Aldridge was injured in Monday's 98-94 victory over the Sacramento Kings. He hurt the thumb when it came down hard on DeMarcus Cousins' knee.

"It's tough," Aldridge told reporters in Portland's locker room before the game. "I definitely didn't want to have anything like this going on right now."

Portland started Thomas Robinson in Aldridge's spot against the Celtics.

The injury is blow to the Blazers, who were already dealing with a depleted front line. Center Robin Lopez is out with a fractured right hand and center Joel Freeland is sidelined with a right shoulder strain.

The Celtics shook up their lineup, starting Brandon Bass instead of Tyler Zeller. Coach Brad Stevens said before the game he wanted to see Bass and Sullinger play together.

"We're not accomplished enough to say we have to have on starting lineup right now," Stevens said pregame.

The Celtics were coming off a 102-93 loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles on Monday night.

After Bass hit a jumper and Marcus Thornton made a 3-pointer to put the Celtics up 33-27, the Blazers went on a 6-0 run to tie it at 33. Portland couldn't pull in front until Matthews' layup made it 39-38 with 2:39 left in the half, but Boston led 44-42 at the break.

Matthews made a 3-pointer to give the Blazers a 56-52 lead, but forward Nicolas Batum headed to the locker room pulling off the tape on his right wrist. Batum did not return.

Lillard gave the Blazers a 72-67 lead with a slam dunk over Bradley with 1.1 seconds to go in the third quarter.

The Blazers were coming off a 118-113 loss to the Suns in Phoenix on Wednesday night.

TIP INS

Celtics: It was the second game of a six-game road trip. ... Boston has won just five games on the road this season.

Trail Blazers: Lopez has switched from a hard cast to a brace. His return is unclear, although general manager Neil Olshey, speaking on Sirius XM Radio, said the team hopes to have the 7-foot center back by the All-Star break.

UP NEXT

The Celtics visit the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

The Trail Blazers host the Wizards on Saturday night.