There was clutch fourth-quarter defense, inspiring two-way play from Toumani Camara and another stat-stuffing performance by Deni Avdija.

But perhaps no one or no thing meant more to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday than Donovan Clingan.

The starting center’s combination of defense, emotion and dominance powered the Blazers to a 114-108 win over the Boston Celtics before 17,949 at the Moda Center.

“I think he was our best defensive player,” Blazers acting coach Tiago Splitter said of Clingan. “Just his presence, reading every situation, talking, leading. He was a big part of our win.”

Clingan finished with 18 points and 18 rebounds, recording his ninth double-double of the season, as the Blazers (13-19) ended a three-game losing streak. He was suffocating early, producing 11 points and eight rebounds in the first quarter. He was clutch late, adding five points and six rebounds in the fourth. And he was a mountain of energy and intensity throughout.

He stared down Celtics players after monster two-handed dunks. He came oh-so-close to drawing a technical foul in the second half, when he towered over a Boston player after finishing a dunk. And he punctuated big shots with screams to the rafters and raised arms.

The Blazers seemed to feed off his energy and emotion, riding it all the way a much-needed win.

“He’s one of those dudes that scores (and) looks at the opponent,” Splitter said. “He tries to bring some juice every time he (has) a good play or a block or something like that, just to pass (it along) to the rest of the guys, the energy, the belief that he has. He’s very important for our defense, for our offense, for the whole locker room’s energy. He’s one of those guys.”

Of course, it took more than Clingan for the shorthanded Blazers to topple the Celtics (19-12).

Camara finished with 20 points, made four of five three-pointers in the second half and played imposing defense. Avdija overcame a shaky first half that included five turnovers to produce 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Shaedon Sharpe added 26 points and five rebounds and Caleb Love scored 18 points off the bench, which included 10 crucial points in the fourth quarter.

Boston had control for most of the first half and built a 10-point lead in the third quarter, thanks in large part to a breathtaking performance by Jaylen Brown, who torched the Blazers with 27 points on 11-for-16 shooting before halftime.

But Splitter tweaked his defense to feature a swarm of double teams and blitzes at the Celtics’ All-Star forward, and it helped fuel a second-half turnaround.

Portland opened the third quarter by outscoring Boston 12-2 and Brown managed just 10 points on 3-for-8 shooting after halftime.

Still, like most of the Blazers’ games this season, the outcome came down to clutch time. And this time, the Blazers’ defense was the difference.

Portland held Boston to three points over the final two minutes, 41 seconds of the game, allowing just one field goal — a Derrick White three-pointer with 43.0 seconds left. Otherwise, the Blazers’ defense was stifling, forcing two missed shots and four turnovers, including two on the Celtics’ final two possessions of the game. The Celtics scored just 45 points in the second half, including 23 in the pivotal fourth quarter.

“I think Sidy (Cissoko) brought energy,” Splitter said. “Toumani always (does). D.C. was protecting the rim, his rebounding was huge. But as a group, the energy was there. We were fighting every screen. They have great players that can shoot the ball. They’re one of the best shooting teams in the league. So (we) had to fight all those screens, getting over or under, and (we) did a good job navigating those positions.”

Top performers

Avdija finished with 20 or more points for the 26th time this season and recorded double-digits in assists for the fifth time this season.

Brown finished with 37 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Celtics, who had won four in a row and nine of 11.

A pair of reunions

Anfernee Simons returned to the Moda Center for the first time as a visitor, finishing with 13 points, three rebounds, two steals and one assist in 19 minutes.

Simons, who spent his first seven seasons with the Blazers, was traded to the Celtics in the offseason in a move that brought Jrue Holiday to Portland. Simons came off the bench for Boston on Sunday and swished his first shot — a three — 17 seconds later. But his shot was mostly cold the rest of the night as Simons made just 4 of 11 field goals, including 2 of 6 threes.

Meanwhile, Payton Pritchard, who went to West Linn High School and played for the Oregon Ducks, recorded nine points, five assists, five rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes.

At NEXT, we love sharing all kinds of Pittsburgh stories with our readers. But if we had to pick a favorite topic, it would be covering new restaurants. Can you blame us?

The regional food scene shows no signs of slowing down: There were so many openings this year we couldn’t possibly visit them all. Our favorites of the year include dishes from India and Poland to Brooklyn and Korea. Some of them are tucked away in tiny boroughs and some are in busy city neighborhoods, but they’re all deliciously unique. If you haven’t tried these places yet, put these eateries on your list now.

Roman Hladio

Chief Reporter

Tatva’s curries or biryanis are stellar, but they play second fiddle to all the small plates and sides that you can’t help but order droves of. Its Punjabi samosas are about the size of your palm and dusted lightly with spice so you can devour them before any sauces hit the table and still get a flavorful bite. The pastry is flaky yet doesn’t crumble to dust between bites, and the filling is just the right texture — you’re never left fighting through a large chunk of potato to reach those rich spices or sweet peas. If you were raised a carnivore — like myself — and have an innate disinterest in vegetarian cooking, you need to try the Hara Bara Kabab off Tatva’s Tandoori menu. The spinach and pea patties are creamy, spicy and have an uncannily crisp crust that makes them irresistible. I’ve shamelessly ordered two portions in one sitting, and they’ve been my gateway drug to other vegetarian and vegan entrees.

Jennifer Baron

Events & Jobs Editor

Advertisement

Stepping into Polska Laska sets the scene for a memorable dining experience: Nestled within a narrow brick building — like a humble mini flatiron — the iconic corner storefront beckons with its bright red double doors, large windows and cheerful sign decorated with stencil lettering and folk art motifs. Taking a seat in the sun-bathed interior is more akin to having dinner at your grandmother’s kitchen table than it is a formal dining setting. For this patron, it even feels more like home, since I am also the proud owner of several 1950s-era Formica kitchen tables and have collected vintage dishware for decades. Receiving the genuine warmth of owner Olive Visco, it’s hard to not be equally smitten with the proprietor, the place — and those signature pierogies — equally. With delicately braided edges, the vegan potato and sauerkraut pierogies had me hooked. On a steamy August day, the Vegan Golabki did wonders, with buckwheat, potato, kapusta, stuffed cabbage and tomato gravy. Fresh beet salad provided side dish perfection.

One of my favorite things about Visco’s approach is that her menu features locally sourced ingredients and is constantly changing, which means you should keep going back to try all the new things she’s perfecting. The best way to keep up with the rotating specials of the week before they sell out is by following their Instagram to drool over the irresistible photos. When riffing on the ‘rogi, Polska Laska thinks way outside the dough. During their first year in business, they’ve served everything from Pumpkin Beer Cheese Pierogies to The Vegan Cowboy Pierogi with potato, soy chorizo, corn, pepper, pickled red onion, jalapeño and vegan cheese and sour cream.

Advertisement

Turkish/Greek cuisine always shines most during warm weather if you ask me. That’s especially true at AVVA, which offers ample outdoor seating on its spacious wrap-around porch and patio, which is heated and covered during the winter for outdoor diners who don’t mind keeping jackets on. The dinner menu includes meze staples like banaganoush, hummus and htipiti, plus shish kebabs, lamb chops, bronzino, salads and much more. The real standout for me, though, was brunch. The savory egg plates with haydari yoghurt, warm chili butter, sujuk, capers and hollandaise sauce paired with Turkish coffee make for a delightful start to a slow weekend morning.

AVVA, which opened in April in the former Mike & Luke’s Front Porch location, does offer indoor seating in its dining room, but space is limited, and reservations are recommended. After brunch, stop and walk around Aspinwall’s charming business district, which includes Spark Books, Bella Christie’s Sweet Boutique Bakery, Rosebud’s gift shop, The Sōl Collective and Aspinwall Beans ’n’ Cream.

Aakanksha Agarwal

Contributing writer

Advertisement

When a long-mythologized New York pizzeria chooses Pittsburgh for its first out-of-state expansion, we pay attention. F&F, from Frank Castronovo and Frank Falcinelli of Brooklyn’s Frankies restaurants, ended up being one of my favorite openings of 2025 by doing something very simple very well.

Pittsburgh already has great pizza. Just ask Joe Manganiello. But between deep-dish, Neapolitan, Detroit-style and classic red-sauce pies, F&F finds a fourth (or 20th) lane. Call it hybrid NYC-Neapolitan if you will.

The pizza comes thin, lightly chewy, crisp underneath and flexible enough to fold. The classic cheese is my baseline, all tomato-ey bright but restrained, mozzarella in soft pools, finished with a good drizzle of Sicilian olive oil. The clam pie, a Brooklyn signature, is more expressive with chopped clams, garlic, breadcrumbs, and finally, a squeeze of lemon, tasting faintly of the ocean.

What seals it is how easy the pies are to eat. Three slices in, a fourth still feels possible. Add buttery olives, stewy beans and greens, and a properly cold, bitter Negroni, and there’s no real reason to leave.

Aakanksha Agarwal

Contributing writer

Advertisement

Top Pot & KBBQ is an all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue and hot pot spot where both happen at the same table. You can choose to do one or both, and each setup comes with a built-in grill and a simmering pot. I love that you’re cooking as you go and setting the pace yourself. There’s also a sauce bar stocked with soy, garlic, chili, sesame oil and other essentials, which you’ll want to visit early and often.

Once orders arrive, the table fills quickly. Thinly sliced galbi and bulgogi, pork neck, shrimp and assorted seafood are accompanied by enoki, shiitake and oyster mushrooms, leafy greens, tofu, corn and noodles. Broth options range from mild and savory to tom yum–style, and the breadth of ingredients keeps the experience varied from start to finish. There’s beer, soju and cocktails to pair with the dishes.

The fun comes from the collective momentum. Someone inevitably will be fighting off a food coma mid-meal. Someone else might create an unhinged sauce that becomes the table standard. You eat in rounds, pause to talk, then jump back in. Service is good at walking first-timers through the process, then backing off once you’ve got it.

One quick note of wisdom: Don’t come right after washing your hair. With open grills and steaming broth at every table, the experience is immersive and intensely aromatic. Accept it, plan accordingly, and consider it evidence of a night well spent.

Honorable mentions:

Roman Hladio

Chief Reporter

I can’t give you a firm date on when this one will return to Pittsburgh, but since it was one of my favorite meals of the year, I can’t pass up a chance to heap praise. If you’re looking for the best burrito in Pittsburgh, you have to track down Chef Beth. Her homemade tortillas have a little tug to them that not only makes them an ideal vessel for stuffing full of toppings, but also just makes them fun to eat. The braised lamb and beans inside coat your mouth and leave you licking your teeth for just one more taste. If borscht happens to also be on the menu when Zozula next rolls around, save a bit of your dill yogurt for dunking your burrito in. You can thank me later.

Technically, Balena Bagels opened at the tail end of 2024, but they became the talk of Castle Shannon throughout 2025, so we’re being cheeky and including them here anyway.

I’m always on the hunt for great bagels in Pittsburgh. It turns out that I’ve got lots of kindred spirits in the South Hills. And they found them first.

I had wanted to check out Balena Bagels since our food writer, Aakanksha, mentioned them in one of her restaurant roundups. So, a couple weeks ago, I popped down to this cute shop in Castle Shannon (right by the Willow Station on the T). But no luck – or should I say “no lox”? They were sold out two hours before the 2 p.m. closing time.

Fortunately, owner Audrey Brown was there and graciously pulled a spare bagel from an emergency bagel kit for me (which absolutely should become a thing!).

Brown was also kind enough to spare a little time to talk shop with a fellow bagel nerd.

I asked Brown what she’s learned in the past year that she didn’t have in mind at opening: “Cream cheese is super important! People really want it,” she said. “We’ve had to figure out how to make our own cream cheese, and what flavors we want to make.”

One team member, Michelle, acts something like a cream cheese sommelier when it comes to determining which flavors to make for the shop. Brown said, “Michelle does a lot. She has this super sense of smell. If she doesn’t like the smell of something, we have to move on. … We just try different things until we hit what we want.”

It’s clear there is both passion and expertise in the bagels that Balena makes. The chew is great. It’s got that signature bagel tang. And the shop is clearly home to a team of people committed to serving the community what they desperately want: a darn good bagel with tasty cream cheese.

• About NBC Connecticut
• Our News Standards
• Submit Tips for Investigations
• Newsletters
• Contact Us
• WVIT Accessibility
• Xfinity: Internet, TV, streaming, more

• WVIT Public Inspection File
• WVIT Accessibility
• WVIT Employment Information
• FCC Applications
• NEW Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices
• Terms of Service
• Advertise with us
• Send Feedback
• CA Notice
• Ad Choices

Copyright © 2025 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All rights reserved