Celtics comfortably beat Jazz, 122-114

Jayson Tatum scored 39 factors on 12/17 capturing, main the Celtics to a 122-114 residence win over the Utah Jazz. Derrick White scored 17 and Malcolm Brogdon completed with 19 factors and seven assists, and the Celtics received wins on back-to-back nights, regardless of having bother on their return flight from Milwaukee. Boston performed with out Al Horford and Robert Williams whereas Utah was lacking Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson.

The Jazz received inside 4 factors in direction of the tip of the third quarter, however the all-bench lineup of Brogdon, White, Grant Williams, Luke Kornet, and Sam Hauser scored 21 factors over the past 4 minutes. They by no means relinquished their double-digit lead till the ultimate minute of the 4th quarter when the sport was out of attain. For Utah, Talen Horton-Tucker scored 28 whereas Walker Kessler completed with 20 factors, 10 rebounds, and three blocks.

The Jazz led 29-27 after the first quarter, as rookies Kessler and Simone Fontecchio mixed for 18 factors. Tatum, who solely scored 15 factors throughout their March 18th matchup, had 11 within the quarter. The Celtics compelled six turnovers however once more had bother on the glass, surrendering 5 offensive rebounds.

Within the 2nd quarter, Joe Mazzulla subbed out each Sam Hauser and Marcus Good on the 10:42 mark after every dedicated turnovers, choosing the curious triple large lineup that includes Grant, Blake Griffin, and Mike Muscala. Grant’s three on the 6:46 mark gave Boston a 39-35 lead, however they weren’t providing resistance on protection, with Kris Dunn and Talen Horton-Tucker attending to the rim at will.

With underneath 4 minutes within the half, Brogdon made an awesome save to Jaylen, who pushed the ball, couldn’t end the layup, however Derrick White was there for the putback dunk:

This received the group going. A pair of Jaylen free throws gave Boston a seven-point lead, however Utah responded with a 6-0 run. Boston answered that with Good hitting a 3 with 30 seconds left, and Tatum ending a fastbreak layup on the buzzer. The Celtics led 57-51 at half.

Tatum had 17 factors and 9 rebounds whereas White scored 15. Boston had a 13-0 free throw benefit and compelled 10 turnovers. Horton-Tucker scored 10 within the 2nd quarter and the Jazz scored 30 paint factors within the first half.

The Celtics opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run and Utah responded with their very own 8-0 run. Deploying a well-known technique, the Jazz doubled Tatum each time he touched the ball. Generally it resulted in open appears, different occasions the Celtics appeared rushed and disjointed. Ochai Agbaji’s transition dunk on the 4:32 mark lower Boston’s result in 72-68.

They responded by hitting 5 3’s over the following three minutes, three from Brogdon—who was honored earlier than the sport because the 2023 Tommy Award winner—and two from Grant. With 45 seconds remaining, Brogdon discovered a streaking Hauser for a an open transition end, giving the Celtics their largest lead of the evening. Dunn responded with a layup, then a DHO keeper from Grant with 5 seconds remaining gave Boston a 93-78 lead going into the 4th quarter.

The Jays opened the ultimate body on the bench, however Tatum checked in at 10:12 and instantly completed a backdoor dunk. Jaylen checked in a couple of minutes later and received referred to as for an elbow-to-the-face flagrant foul on Horton-Tucker, and the break in motion sucked the power out of the constructing. However Tatum’s contested step-back 28-footer on the 6:32 mark received the group reenergized.

Kris Dunn was relentless in attacking the ring, scoring eight factors off drives, however Utah couldn’t lower the deficit to single digits. They’d an opportunity when Blake and Tatum received technical fouls on consecutive possessions, however that was squashed after Tatum hit a nook three to offer Boston a 115-101 lead with 3:40 remaining. Regardless of having an awesome recreation, Dunn misplaced his cool, getting thrown out of the sport after selecting up two consecutive technical fouls. The Celtics would find yourself successful 122-114, bettering to 54-24 for the season.

They’ve three days off earlier than a Tuesday evening marquee matchup at Philadelphia.