The Celtics didn’t collapse on Sunday night in Portland (13-19), they just couldn’t finish.

Boston stayed close, traded punches late, and had moments where control seemed within reach. But whenever the door opened, the Blazers slammed it just enough to keep Boston out.

The result was a 114-108 loss that snapped Boston’s four-game winning streak and dropped them to 19-12.

It wasn’t a bad loss in terms of effort; it was a frustrating one that exposed small cracks more than big flaws. Turnovers, cold shooting, and missed moments late added up.

Jaylen Brown did everything possible to pull Boston across the finish line, but the team needed more collective sharpness on their first West Coast stop of this road trip.

Here are four takeaways from Boston’s loss to Portland.

1. Brown Makes History:

The headline performance belonged to Brown, and it wasn’t close.

Brown scored 37, bringing his streak of 30-point games to nine - matching Larry Bird for the franchise record.

He put up 27 in the first half, attacking relentlessly and challenging Portland’s defense.

This was not empty scoring. Brown was aggressive, decisive, and in control, shooting 14 for 24 with 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

Boston lost, but Brown now looks like an elite offensive player. When they need a bucket, there’s no doubt who delivers. His performance in this loss should, at the very least, keep him right where he is in the MVP conversation.

2. Turnovers & Misses Finally Caught Up to Them:

Boston gave itself very little margin for error, and then erased it entirely.

The Celtics committed 19 turnovers, several of them unforced and several more coming at brutal moments late.

Combine that with a 13 for 45 night from three-point range (28.9%), and it’s hard to win a road game against a team as relentless as this young Blazers team.

Portland wasn’t perfect. The Blazers missed free throws and committed 21 turnovers, but Boston couldn’t capitalize often enough.

Against better teams, those mistakes become fatal. Against middling ones, they’re still enough to tilt the game the wrong way.

Unfortunately for Boston, their tilt game wasn’t strong enough on Sunday.

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3. Hugo Show Rolls On:

Another game, another noticeable impact from Hugo Gonzalez.

The rookie had 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in 30 minutes, further earning head coach Joe Mazzulla’s trust.

Even when Boston went small late, Gonzalez stayed on the floor.

That matters.

Josh Minott’s recent DNPs and reduced role aren’t about struggles - they highlight Gonzalez's separation. His energy, defense, and versatility fit Boston’s needs off the bench.

This rotation is tightening, and Gonzalez will continue being very much part of it moving forward.

4. Don’t Ignore This Loss:

I am on the record on this very website saying the Celtics were vulnerable heading to Portland for this one, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore this loss moving forward.

Losses like this don’t signal panic. They signal reminders.

Boston stayed engaged and competitive. But execution matters, especially on the road. Small lapses - careless passes, rushed shots, missed rotations - add up fast when the opponent won’t fold.

The Celtics still look like one of the best teams in the East. This game doesn’t change that.

But this game reinforces their standards.

To separate from the pack, Boston must handle nights like this better.

They’ll get another chance Tuesday in Utah (12-19).

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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.