Final: Jazz 98, Celtics 86 -- Offense implodes in second half

One night after finishing off their best win of the year, the C's suffered their most disappointing loss of the season, floundering to a 98-86 defeat to the Jazz at the TD Garden, the second loss to Utah in the past eight days. Donovan Mitchell had a game-high 28 points for the visitors while Ricky Rubio added 20 points, helping the Jazz push the lead to as many as 22 points in the second half.

The Celtics shot a season-low 5-of-33 from 3-point range with Kyrie Irving (20 points) and Jayson Tatum (10 points) standing out as the only two players that cracked double figures in a miserable shooting night for the offense (38.5 percent from the field). Jaylen Brown (1-of-9) and Terry Rozier (2-of-9) were two of the biggest culprits in those woes. 

The C's fall to 9-7 on the season in the defeat, while the Jazz improved to 8-8.

Second Half Notes

• A complete nightmare third quarter made the C's look like a team that's running out of gas or drive on the offensive end. They went 8-of-26 from the field and 0-of-10 from downtown, helping the Jazz outscore them 27-17 in the frame.


• The damage was made worse midway through the frame when Irving picked up five fouls, sending the point guard to the bench when he was the only Celtic scoring consistently.


• C's were called for a pair of clear path fouls and other foolish calls in the penalty that helped Utah pile up 11 free throw attempts in the frame.


• The bench were was the main cause of the woes tonight in the second half, with Rozier, Smart, and Baynes combining for 0-of-8 from the field.

• A game that's pretty reflective of two teams on the second half of a back-to-back over the first 24 minutes of this one.


• Jazz have nursed a lead for most of the first half, largely on the back of some lackluster shooting for the C's. Boston has knocked down just 25 percent of their 3s before the break, with a limited ability to attack the rim with Rudy Gobert looming.


• The shooting problems have extended inside the arc as well as the C's missed six of nine free throws in the first half, costing them precious points in what was a five-point game at half.


• Kyrie Irving (12 points) has been able to keep the offense afloat, while Donovan Mitchell has shaken off an ugly shooting night in Philadelphia for 14 first half points.


• Some surprise minutes for Daniel Theis in the first quarter that did not turn out well with a couple missed jumpers and free throws. Aron Baynes really helped turn the tide in the second quarter to get the C's back into the game.


• Jaylen Brown continues his shooting woes (1-of-6) for the second straight night. He's been out of sorts for most of the year for the green.


• C's keep shooting themselves in the foot as well with the nine turnovers. They won't be able to get away with that and poor shooting to come back in second half.

• The Jazz are coming off three straight losses since their win against the Celtics last Friday, including a defeat to the Sixers yesterday in Philadelphia. Donovan Mitchell took a season-high 35 shots in that contest and dished out zero assists.


• Gordon Hayward plans to play despite seeing the floor for a season-high 39 minutes in Friday's overtime win over the Raptors. It will be the second back-to-back game he's played in this season and first since his minutes' restriction was lifted.


• Kyrie Irving became the first Celtic since Antoine Walker to score 40 points and dish out 10 assists in the same game. He's just the second player (Kevin Durant) in the NBA to do it this season.


• Jayson Tatum has scored 20 points in three of his last four games after Friday's 21-point outburst.