Celtics' home streak reaches 11 with 100-95 win over Jazz

BOSTON (AP) Boston's 18-point loss at Utah in its first game after the All-Star break was a rough one.

It didn't take very long for the Celtics to learn from their mistakes.

Jae Crowder had 22 points, and the Celtics extended their home win streak to 11 with a 100-95 victory over the Jazz on Monday night.

Isaiah Thomas added 18 points and nine assists for Boston, which shot just 37 percent from the field in a 111-93 loss to Utah on Feb. 19. Avery Bradley also finished with 18 points.

''We're really locking in, and being resilient and believing in one another. And we're believing in what coach Brad draws up for us,'' Crowder said. ''We've been doing a great job when it's crunch time of finding the right shot. That takes lot of togetherness, and I think we've shown that. We gotta continue to show that to win games.''

Boston trailed for most of the game, but found its footing in the opening minutes of the fourth and used a 9-3 run to take its first lead of the second half.

The fourth quarter featured eight more lead changes, but the Celtics went in front for good on a 3-pointer by Crowder with less than a minute to play. The shot came off a set play drawn up by Stevens during a timeout.

The ball went into Thomas, who drove into the lane and drew multiple defenders. That created space on the wing for Crowder, the first option on the play.

''Once (the defender) sinks in just a little bit I knew I.T. was going to make the right play. I just wanted a little bit of daylight to let it go,'' Crowder said.

Trey Lyles had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Jazz, who have dropped three in a row. Shelvin Mack added 18 points. Gordon Hayward finished with 16.

Lyles, a rookie first-round pick, scored a total of 16 points in his previous seven games. But he continually found gaps in the middle of the Celtics' defense.

Boston won despite being outrebounded 52-47 for the game.

''I think these last two (losses) have been pretty deflating for us,'' Hayward said. ''We got to find a way to pick ourselves up. We got three more tough games on this trip. Tonight was one where we felt like we were in control early, but just couldn't get stops.

''We got to learn from it and find a way to pick ourselves up.''

TIP-INS

Jazz: F Trevor Booker left the team so he could attend his grandmother's funeral in South Carolina. He is expected to rejoin the Jazz on Wednesday.

Celtics: G/F James Young was inactive with a calf strain. He was recalled Monday after a one-game stint in the NBA Development League with the Maine Red Claws.

NO HARD FEELINGS

David Lee never quite found a place in Boston before he was waived on Feb. 19. But Stevens said he is hoping he fits in better with the Dallas Mavericks.

Stevens said he sent his former player a congratulatory text after Lee helped the Mavericks post a comeback win over Denver on Friday.

''As much as you go through with everybody, and guys play or don't play or whatever the case may be, you want everybody that leaves here to do well,'' Stevens said. ''We're rooting for him to do well and happy for the way he started.''

BUTLER DUO REUNITED

Jazz coach Quin Snyder said he thinks the fact that Hayward and Mack played together at Butler certainly will help get Mack acclimated to the Jazz following his trade from Atlanta on Feb. 18.

''Anytime you have two guys that have a good feel for the game, they integrate - I'm talking just about basketball. At the same time, the familiarity I think accelerates that,'' Snyder said. ''But I haven't seen them wearing Bulldog colors or anything like that. ... I know they appreciate one another.''

UP NEXT

Jazz: Visit Toronto on Wednesday.

Celtics: Host Portland on Wednesday.

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Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower