The Boston Celtics earned a hard-fought 126-112 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, thanks in large part to a stellar performance from Jayson Tatum. The All-Star forward finished with 34 points and 12 rebounds, leading the Celtics to the win. Tatum was a menace on both ends of the court, making key defensive plays and converting on several tough shots. He was particularly effective in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 points and helping the Celtics hold off a late Portland rally. The Blazers were led by guard Damian Lillard, who finished with 32 points and nine assists. C.J. McCollum and Norman Powell both scored 20 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Celtics' balanced attack. Boston had seven players finish in double figures, including 22 points from Jaylen Brown and 18 from Kemba Walker. The Celtics have now won four of their last five games and are currently in third place in the Eastern Conference standings. They will look to continue their winning ways when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.