The Celtics shot just 37.2 percent from the field without Gordon Hayward and Jaylen Brown, as the undermanned bench was exposed by the Jazz in a 99-94 defeat. Marcus Smart had a game-high 29 points for the C's but with Kemba Walker on a minutes limit and Jayson Tatum having an off night, there was not enough firepower from the rest of the C's lineup to hang with Utah. Mike Conley had a team-high 25 points for the visitors who handed the C's their third straight home loss. Boston will try to get back on track on Sunday against the Thunder.
WHO: Celtics (41-17) vs. Jazz (39-22)
WHEN: 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden
RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub
TV: NBC Sports Boston
Celtics
PG: Kemba Walker
SG: Marcus Smart
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Semi Ojeleye
C: Daniel Theis
Jazz
G: Mike Conley Jr.
G: Donovan Mitchell
F: Royce O'Neale
F: Bojan Bogdanovic
C: Rudy Gobert
Pregame Notes
- Gordon Hayward and Jaylen Brown are both out. Hayward is day-to-day as he continues to recover from a knee contusion while Brown is expected to be re-evaluated next week after suffering a hamstring strain. It's possible he could return on Thursday against the Bucks.
- Kemba Walker will see a slight bump in his minutes limit after playing 23 on Tuesday night.
- The Jazz have won three straight games overall after losing to the Celtics last week but none of their opponents have been above .500 during that stretch.
- Semi Ojeleye will get the start at small forward in place of Brown to give the C's a more perimeter look. Grant Williams got the nod last game at power forward but Ojeleye is the better perimeter defender to match up with Bogdanovic.