Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Celtics Cap Road Trip by Making Franchise History in Win vs. Jazz
The Celtics staged a pair of 13-4 runs in the first frame, quickly taking control of Tuesday's tilt.
They made 9/15 threes, assisted on 13 of 16 field goals, shot 64 percent from the floor, parlayed four Utah turnovers into ten points, and scored seven on the fast break.
Firing on all cylinders offensively, Boston took a 44-33 lead into the second quarter. It's the fourth time this season that the Celtics have totaled that output in the first 12 minutes. According to NBC Sports Boston's Dick Lipe, it's the first time they've done it on the road since 2018.
Jayson Tatum generated 15 points in the opening period, including six on a pair of threes and throwing down a thunderous dunk in transition.
The Jazz countered with a 15-2 run in the second quarter, pulling within four thanks to giveaways from the visitors, who had six in the frame, and the hosts finding their rhythm from beyond the arc.
But when Boston wasn't turning the ball over, it consistently produced points, entering halftime with a 72-57 advantage. The Celtics have now scored at least 70 points in the first half for a franchise record 15 times this season.
Tatum entered intermission with 18 points, while Derrick White, who was en fuego from beyond the arc, chipped in 15 on 5/9 shooting, including 4/5 from three-point range.
Sam Hauser, fresh off a season-high 22 points, buried four of the seven triples he hoisted and put 12 points on the board.
Luke Kornet stuffed the stat sheet, repeatedly reaping the rewards for effective on-ball screens that led to lobs and well-timed cuts to the basket, resulting in him scoring eight points in the opening 24 minutes. He also grabbed six rebounds, dished out four assists, and registered a rejection.
Jrue Holiday distributed eight assists, the most after two quarters, consistently finding Kornet at the rim.
While Tatum entered the final frame with 30 points, including a late three to help the visitors close the third period on a 5-0 run, extending their lead to 98-91, the offense got stagnant in the first 12 minutes after the break.
With players standing around, watching the action unfold, and the Celtics settling too often, Utah staged a 12-2 run, pulling within four before Boston rebuilt a three-possession advantage.
The C's shot 37 percent from the field in the third quarter, including 3/12 (25 percent) from behind the arc.
The visitors built on that 5-0 burst to close the third frame, stretching it into a 12-0 run to push their lead back to 15. Between multiple rejections by Derrick White and Holiday knocking down a pair of threes, it avalanched into a 20-0 six-minute span, growing the lead to 113-91 with 6:28 left.
Taking care of business early allowed the Celtics to comfortably cruise to the finish line, capping their five-game road trip, in which they went 3-2, with a 123-107 win.
Tatum finished with 38 points in the victory, leading all scorers. White registered 24, six rebounds, and three blocks, including stuffing John Collins on a failed post-up attempt in the fourth quarter.
Holiday contributed 16 points, a game-high eight assists, five rebounds, two steals, and a block.
Hauser put 14 points on the board, burying 4/11 threes. Kornet, continuing to star in his role, chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds, which were the most in the matchup, grabbing four at the offensive end. And he distributed six assists.
His impact on the glass helped Boston secure 14 offensive rebounds and manufacture a 22-10 edge in second-chance scoring. The visitors limited the Jazz, who entered the day extending 12.6 possessions per contest, the third-most in the NBA, to nine boards at the offensive end.
They also doubled them up in fast-break points, producing 14 to the hosts' seven. And they parlayed Utah's ten turnovers into a 16-8 advantage in points off giveaways.
Those wins on the margins and stepping up defensively in the final frame, in which they limited the Jazz to 16 points in the last 12 minutes, were crucial to ending this road trip on a high note.
The Celtics now return home to TD Garden, where they'll host the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. That matchup will tip off at 7:30 EST.
Further Reading
'Always Ready': Celtics Second Unit Shines in Portland
Jayson Tatum Plays Entire Second Half vs. Suns: 'Don't Really Say That Many Times'
Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent
Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented
Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'
Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot
Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans
Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'
Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'
Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'
