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Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Loss vs. Jazz: Boston Outplayed in Crunch-Time
No lead is safe in today's NBA. That's well understood, especially when it's the first half. But the way the Celtics' 19-point advantage evaporated was problematic with the playoffs in mind.
There was an overreliance on low-quality threes, not attacking, getting downhill to play inside-out basketball, and creating open in-rhythm opportunities.
Defensively, a lack of ball pressure and an inability to keep Talen Horton-Tucker, who finished with 19 points and was primarily responsible for the Jazz having a 48-30 edge in paint points, was also disappointing for a team that's been harping on the need to lock in at that end and had done so in its last two games.
Another issue for Boston, especially with Robert Williams out, is the Celtics' struggle to limit the opposition to one shot per possession.
Eight of Walker Kessler's game-high 14 rebounds were on the offensive glass, helping Utah manufacture 20 second-chance points to Boston's eight.
While the Celtics clinched a playoff spot with the Heat losing to the Bulls, they also fell to third in the East since they have one more loss and a slightly lower winning percentage than the Sixers (.686 percent to .681). Both teams are two games behind the Bucks.
Now, a deep dive into what stood out in each quarter as Boston came up short against the Jazz, including two squandered possessions at the end of the game.
Celtics' Defense Fuels Its Offense in the First Frame
While Saturday represents the second half of a back-to-back for the Celtics and their third game in four days, the visitors came out with a lot of energy.
It's more common for a team that's played as much as Boston has in a condensed time frame to look fresh in the first half than the second, so it bears monitoring. It seems like a good night for Joe Mazzulla to tap into his team's depth.
Grant Williams, inserted into the starting lineup with Boston down three starters, had a productive first frame, including drilling two threes and corralling an offensive rebound that led to Blake Griffin earning a trip to the free-throw line.
That was part of a 15-3 run by the visitors, with their defense fueling their offense as they accumulated points in transition, including a Malcolm Brogdon pull-up three that extended their lead to 29-16. That was their largest advantage of the opening period.
And while Lauri Markkanen buried a three at the buzzer, the Celtics still took a double-digit edge into the second quarter, putting 34 points on the board while limiting the Jazz to 24.
Jaylen Brown produced a period-high ten points.
Surprisingly, Jayson Tatum took one shot and went scoreless in eight minutes. It's a reflection of Boston's defense doing the heavy lifting, serving as the driving force behind its double-digit advantage.
The Celtics held Utah to 34.8 percent shooting from the field in the first 12 minutes. The visitors also converted three Jazz turnovers into nine points.
Celtics Take a 19-Point Lead but Let Go of the Rope in the Second Quarter
When Tatum knocked down a three from the left wing that put the Celtics ahead 48-34, it gave him 2,000 points for the season. He's the first NBA player to reach that milestone in the 2022-23 campaign. He's also the fourth Celtic to have multiple 2000-point seasons.
In a prime example of Boston being at its best, after forcing a stop at the defensive end, the visitors pushed the pace; Tatum attacked downhill and kicked the ball out to Brown, who swung it to Williams for an open three from the right wing.
After another stop, the Celtics extended their run to 8-0, as Williams had an open path to the rim and cruised in for a dunk that grew Boston's advantage to 53-34.
But the Jazz proceeded to chip away at the visitors' 19-point lead, staging a 23-5 Jazz run, pulling within one, 58-57.
As the Celtics went cold offensively, Talen Horton-Tucker repeatedly got to the rim, often taking Williams off the dribble. He led Utah with nine points in the period, entering halftime with a team-high 13.
Horton-Tucker's aggressive approach helped the hosts generate 14 points in the paint in the second quarter, outscoring Boston 22-16 from there in the first half.
The other key component of the Jazz's run was Walker Kessler controlling the glass. The visitors had a difficult time keeping him off the offensive boards. The rookie grabbed three of Utah's six offensive rebounds in the second frame, leading to six second-chance points.
Fortunately for the Celtics, Tatum went on a 6-0 run to end the half, giving Boston a 61-57 edge after 24 minutes.
The four-time All-Star registered 15 points at halftime, as did Brown. The visitors also got 11 points from Williams.
Celtics Get More Comfortable Against the Zone in the Third Quarter
The start of the third quarter resembled roughly the final six minutes of the second frame, as the Celtics struggled to figure out the Jazz's zone and combat their length.
And with Utah in rhythm, exemplified by Ochai Agbaji starting the period 3/5 from the field, when the former Kansas Jayhawk drilled a three from the right corner at the 7:38 mark, Boston's 19-point lead had evaporated. The hosts held a 71-69 advantage and had momentum against a tired and frustrated opponent.
And when Kessler blocked a Brown scoop shot at the rim, which turned into a Rudy Gay three at the other end, the hosts had generated 48 points in about 14:30, staging a 26-point turnaround and taking an 82-75 lead.
But after a Mazzulla timeout, the Celtics countered with an 11-0 run, playing with much more energy.
They also looked more comfortable against the zone, including with Brown in the middle of it. Driving the ball into the paint was also crucial to the visitors recapturing their rhythm.
Another noteworthy bucket came when Brown passed up a clean look at a three, stepping in for a mid-range jumper he knocked down. A heavy volume of missed threes hurt the Celtics as the Jazz's surge snowballed into an avalanche.
When the quarter closed, Boston held a 91-88 advantage entering the final frame.
Celtics' Can't Fend Off the Jazz in the Fourth Quarter
After catching a skip pass from Tatum and slightly hesitating before missing a three, which drew the ire of his head coach for not letting it fly with confidence, Williams buried a shot from 27 feet, giving the Celtics a 100-95 lead with 8:51 remaining.
That could prove a meaningful boost for Williams' confidence. He drilled two more threes shortly after that, giving Boston a 108-101 edge with 6:17 left.
Keeping Utah off the boards remained a problem, though, as a Kessler offensive rebound turned into a Horton-Tucker layup, bringing the hosts within three, 111-108, with 3:27 to go.
But Williams stayed hot, providing a significant boost in the final frame, knocking down a right-corner three that extended the visitors' lead to 114-108 with 2:31 to play.
And with the Celtics clinging to a one-point lead, the former Tennessee Volunteer attacked from the left corner, finding Brown in the opposite corner for a three that gave them a 117-113 advantage with 1:19 remaining.
But the Jazz countered with a 5-0 run, including a Horton-Tucker layup that put Utah ahead 118-117 with 35 seconds left.
That's where the score stood when Boston got the ball with five seconds left after it slipped out of Horton-Tucker's hands as he went in for a layup attempt.
As well as Williams played, he seemed to mess up the final play, which was likely designed to get the ball to Tatum on a dribble handoff. Instead, he ended up going downhill too quickly, meeting taller players at the rim.
His failed attempt sealed a 118-117 win for the Jazz. It's an unfortunate way for him to end such an impactful quarter.
The Celtics' second-to-last possession wasn't much better. Down one with 35 seconds left, they opted for a two-for-one, got the ball to Tatum in the backcourt, and he quickly pulled up for a three from above the break that badly bricked.
Two opportunities where it felt like Boston should've worked to get something better. Had the Celtics done so, perhaps the outcome would've been different.
Tatum did not score in the final frame. The only quarter he put points on the board in was the second. He finished with 15 points.
Also, it's puzzling that Derrick White did not play in the final 12 minutes. Even when Boston's at full strength, that shouldn't happen; it was even more perplexing down three starters.
Up Next
The Celtics head to Sacramento to face the Kings Tuesday night. The matchup tips off at 10 pm EST. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the game before, during, and afterward. And follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post.
Further Reading
Al Horford and Marcus Smart Credit Joe Mazzulla for Celtics' Recent Success
Joe Mazzulla Explains What's Different About the Celtics Since Their Loss in Houston
