Portland Trail Blazers Team Report - November 11

(Basketball News) - The Portland Trail Blazers found themselves on the wrong end of a 90-88 decision against the Boston Celtics at the FleetCenter on Wednesday.

Zach Randolph posted a game-high 22 points with eight boards for the Trail Blazers, losers of three straight. Darius Miles scored 20 of his 21 points in the second half and hit his first seven shots of the fourth quarter to help Portland get back into the game.

The Trail Blazers took their first lead of the game inside the 9:00 mark of the fourth quarter when Ruben Patterson’s bucket made it 74-73. They led until Gary Payton drained a three-pointer with five minutes left to put him over the 20,000-points plateau and give Boston an 80-79 lead.

Later in the quarter, with the score tied at 87, Raef LaFrentz went 1-for-2 at the free throw line to give the Celtics a one-point lead. Payton was rejected moments later by Theo Ratliff, and Randolph made one of his two free throws at the other end to tie the game again with 19.1 seconds left.

Pierce ended it moments later with a step-back jump shot moments after he was poked in the eye by Portland rookie Sebastian Telfair while fighting for a rebound at the other end, giving the Blazers their first loss in Boston since March 1, 1998.

Portland kicks off a four-game homestand on Saturday against the Toronto Raptors.