Celtics destroyed on the boards, lose at Utah 118-117, fall to 3rd in East

Twenty second-chance factors by the Jazz have been the distinction tonight because the Celtics misplaced 118-117 in Utah. Boston gave up a season-high 17 offensive rebounds, and their counterpunch of twenty-two threes wasn’t sufficient to avoid wasting them.

Jaylen Brown led with 25 factors and Grant Williams shot 7-of-12 from the arc, however was blocked underneath the ring on the ultimate inbounds play as time expired. Jayson Tatum was held to fifteen factors, none within the second half. Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 28 factors.

Regardless of the loss, the Cs clinched a playoff spot because of Miami dropping to Chicago. Nonetheless, the Celts fell to 3-2 on their highway journey, and dropped into third within the East, a couple of share factors behind the Sixers, who gained their eighth straight earlier within the night.

Malcolm Brogdon returned after lacking the win in Portland. Robert Williams and Payton Pritchard remained on the harm listing, and have been joined by Marcus Good (left hip contusion) and Al Horford (who usually sits out the tail finish of a back-to-back). Blake Griffin and Grant moved into the beginning lineup.

Utah was with out the injured Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton. The Jazz performed for the primary time since Monday, after they accomplished a six-game highway journey of their very own.

From the leap, the Jazz ran a double-team at Tatum each time he touched the ball all night time; he took only one shot within the first quarter. However his teammates took benefit by taking pictures 57% and hitting 7-of-13 threes. Boston used a 15-3 run (together with a Malcolm Brogdon free throw after outdated pal Kelly Olynyk was T’d up for complaining) to construct a 13-point lead. Markkanen drained a triple on the buzzer however the Celts led 34-24. Jaylen led the group with 10 factors within the body.

Tatum broke out within the second quarter, highlighted by a four-point play through which Utah’s Johnny Juzang dedicated a flagrant foul with a “reckless closeout.” Quickly after, Tatum swished one other triple to surpass 2,000 factors for the season. When Grant drove for a slam off Jayson’s fourth help of the night time, the Celtics had scored 11 straight to take a 53-24 lead.

However as we all know, these Celtics’ weak spot is relinquishing giant leads. The Jazz switched to zone protection, which cooled off Boston’s taking pictures, and Utah reeled off a 23-5 run that minimize the result in a single level. Their offensive rebounding (10 within the half) additionally made a distinction.

Tatum restored order barely within the closing minute by burying a 3 from up prime, then drawing a taking pictures foul for 3 free throws with 0.4 seconds left. His six-point burst made the rating 64-57 at intermission. Tatum and Brown each scored 15 within the half.

The Jazz got here out robust within the third, and when Ochai Agbaji hit consecutive threes, they took their first lead of the night time at 71-69. Derrick White’s three took again the lead at 73-71. It was short-lived. Walker Kessler made consecutive layups and Rudy Homosexual drilled a triple to cap an 11-2 run, and Utah led 82-75.

NBA momentum can shift rapidly although. Mike Muscala’s nook three triggered an 11-0 run. A Brogdon trey and feed to Luke Kornet made it a 16-3 stretch, and when the buzzer sounded the Cs held a tenuous 91-88 benefit.

With the rating tied at 95, Brogdon’s layup and jumper, sandwiched round a Grant triple, put Boston up seven with 8:00 to go.

With 1:43 left within the fourth quarter, the officers dominated a foul by Jaylen Brown was a flagrant one. Kessler missed each, however Agbaji made a 3 with the additional possession. When Talen Horton-Tucker drove for a layup, the Jazz led by one with 35.3 remaining.

The Celtics now have two days off earlier than closing out their highway journey versus the Sacramento Kings, who will probably be enjoying their second recreation in two nights.