Blazers guard Jrue Holiday gets champion's welcome in return to Boston to face Celtics

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BOSTON (AP) — Jrue Holiday got a champion’s welcome in his return to Boston.

The Trail Blazers guard received a big cheer when he was shown on the scoreboard during warmups, another when he was introduced before the game, and a standing ovation after a tribute video of highlights that included him clutching the NBA championship trophy he helped Boston win in 2024.

“Brought back good times,” Holiday said on Monday night after Portland's 102-94 loss to the Celtics. “Something like that -- for me, it felt like it was like that every single game. You play hard for this team and this city, and they definitely have your back.”

The Celtics acquired Holiday from the Blazers before the 2023-24 season and rode his two-way prowess to their 18th NBA title. But they had to jettison him and center Kristaps Porzingis last the summer to get under the league's punitive second apron luxury tax.

This season was supposed to be a bridge year while they wait for star Jayson Tatum to return from an Achilles tendon injury. But Boston leads the Atlantic Division and holds the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, with hope that Tatum could return for a playoff run.

Meanwhile, Holiday missed two months this season with a right calf strain and remains on a minutes restriction since returning two weeks ago. He scored 14 points in 24 minutes on Monday night, then hugged it out with his former teammates on the court.

“It’s just like family. There’s a normalcy to it,” Holiday said. “You spend so much time with them that they become family and then just all of a sudden you’re on a different team. So it’s always good to see them.”

For Holiday, changing teams isn’t a shock any more. He was originally drafted by Philadelphia and also spent time in New Orleans and Milwaukee before coming to Boston. But teammate Rob Williams III was a little shocked when the Celtics traded him to the Blazers -- for Holiday – in 2023.

“Everybody’s first trade is just kind of a rough one,” said Williams, who had to watch from afar as the team that drafted him won it all.

“I watched the whole finals. I watched them win it. Me and my girl,” he said. “I went through a moment of saying I was happy for my dogs. Then I went through ‘F’ ‘em,’ you now what I’m saying? It was mixed emotions, but I’m glad they did it for sure.”

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