SALT LAKE CITY -- With the entire crowd focused in on Gordon Hayward in his first appearance at Vivant Smart Home Arena since opting to sign with the Celtics last July, it was almost fitting that the Jazz coaching staff placed their attention on the 28-year-old forward immediately out of the gate.
Hayward has always been known as a solid defender before his ankle injury, but the Jazz made a point of targeting him on that end of the floor on Friday night, running him ragged as chased Joe Ingles around screens for most of the first quarter. Ingles got hot early, scoring seven of his career-high 27 points in the first quarter, setting the stage for what would eventually become one of the worst defensive performances by the Celtics in recent memory.
Joe Ingles ties his career-high with 27 PTS in the @utahjazz win over BOS! #TeamIsEverything pic.twitter.com/hQEIW0hdzl
— NBA (@NBA) November 10, 2018