Celtics 96, Trail Blazers 78: Jeff Green scored a season-high 19 points off the bench and Jason Terry added 17 as Boston bounced back without Rajon Rondo.

Paul Pierce collected 12 points and eight rebounds and Kevin Garnett chipped in 10 and five for the Celtics. Courtney Lee started at guard and recorded 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists in place of Rondo, who was suspended two games during a skirmish in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.

LaMarcus Aldridge led the way with 23 points and eight rebounds for Portland, which shot 23.3 percent in the first half and never got back into the game.

After being called soft by coach Doc Rivers following the loss on Wednesday, the Celtics came out strong on both ends against the Blazers. They took a 25-18 lead after the first quarter and Green scored 14 points in the second to help stretch it out to 56-33 at the break.

Portland had a strong third quarter and crept to within 77-62 with 10:15 left before Green and Leandro Barbosa hit back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead back over 20 and put the game away.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Boston G Kris Joseph was called up from the D-League to take Rondo’s spot on the roster and posted the first two points of his NBA career. … The Celtics recorded a season-high 16 steals. Green led with four. … Portland rookie C Meyers Leonard and C J.J. Hickson each scored 11 points.