The Boston Celtics will play the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, for their first game of the 2024-25 NBA season. The Trail Blazers have failed to win a single game against the Celtics since January 21, 2022, and are currently 1-4 in their last five meetings. The Celtics have been mostly successful this season and are currently second in the Eastern Conference with a record of 43-18.On the other hand, the Trail Blazers have struggled to compete and currently sit at 12th in the Western Conference with a record of 28-34. Unsurprisingly, Jayson Tatum and the 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown have been the Celtics’ biggest contributors this season.Tatum leads the team in scoring, rebounds and assists, recording 26.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown averages 23.2 points, 6 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game while playing 35.1 minutes on average.The Trail Blazers, their opponents for tonight, don’t have any definitive stars on the team with no one averaging more than 20+ points per game. However, Anfernee Simons comes close with 19 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. The gulf in quality between these two teams might be too big to overcome for the Trail Blazers tonight.Portland Trail Blazers vs. Boston Celtics Injury Reports for Mar. 5Portland Trail Blazers injury reportThe Portland Trail Blazers will have to make some significant adjustments for tonight’s game. Deandre Ayton (left calf), Matisse Thybulle (right ankle), and Robert Williams III (left knee) are all listed as out. Furthermore, Jerami Grant (right knee) and Justin Minaya are also listed as questionable. So, both the bench and the starting lineup will take some hits for the game against the Celtics.Boston Celtics injury reportIn comparison, the Celtics don’t have any players listed as out for tonight’s game. However, Jaylen Brown (illness) and Jayson Tatum (right shoulder) are listed as questionable, while Jrue Holiday (right hand) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) are listed as doubtful.Portland Trail Blazers vs. Boston Celtics Starting Lineups and Depth Charts for Mar. 5Portland Trail Blazers starting lineup and depth chartsThe Portland Trail Blazers are expected to start Anfernee Simons, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, Kris Murray and Donovan Clingan.Point GuardShooting GuardSmall ForwardPower ForwardCenterAnfernee SimonsToumani CamaraDeni AvdijaKris MurrayDonovan ClinganScoot HendersonDalano BantonShaedon SharpeJabari WalkerDuop ReathRayan RupertBoston Celtics starting lineup and depth chartsThe Boston Celtics are expected to start Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford.Point GuardShooting GuardSmall ForwardPower ForwardCenterDerrick WhitePayton PritchardJaylen BrownJayson TatumAl HorfordJD DavisonBaylor ScheiermanSam HauserDrew PetersonLuke KornetCraig Porter Jr.Jordan WalshXavier Tillman