BSJ Game Report: Celtics 123, Jazz 107 - Jayson Tatum leads 3-point barrage for third straight win

Everything you need to know about the Celtics win over the Jazz, with BSJ insight and analysis

IN A NUTSHELL

Both teams were on fire to start the game, but Jayson Tatum out-dueled rookie Keyonte George to fuel an early 11 point lead. Turnovers triggered a big Jazz run in the second quarter but Boston answered that with a big run of their own to take a 15-point halftime lead. A 24-9 Jazz run mostly erased that and Boston’s lead heading into the fourth was just eight. The Celtics then scored 15 straight points to start the fourth to break the game open and hold on from there. 

Box Score

HEADLINES

- Good responses: This game was basically going according to conventional wisdom. The on the back-to-back from Portland came out hot and with good energy but they slipped in the third, which is when fatigue tends to set in. But instead of giving in to all the Jazz runs, they kept answering. Their 20-0 run into the fourth was the best response of all on a night where they had a few nice responses. 

- Tatum’s big night: 38 points on 52/40/100 shooting splits. Without Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, or Al Horford, Tatum shouldered a big load. 

- Tillman chips in: His rebounding made a big difference in this game, grabbing eight rebounds, half of them on the offensive end. He stepped in nicely with 26:31 on a night Boston needed a big to fill some very large shoes. 

TURNING POINT

The Celtics went on a 20-0 run spanning the end of the third and well into the fourth. The game went from 93-91 to 113-91 in approximately six minutes. 

THINGS I LIKED

- Derrick White: The Jazz are the ultimate slump-buster. If a shooter can’t get right against this Utah team, then he ain’t getting right. White shot 7-11 from deep and 8-17 overall to finish with 24 points. 

- Luke Kornet: When we talk about guys being stars in their roles, performances like the recent stretch by Kornet are what we’re talking about. Once again there for alley oops and offensive rebounds, and he chipped in with a career-high six assists as well. 

- Jrue Holiday: What a quiet 16-point, five-rebound, eight-assist performance. He filled in a lot of gaps for the Celtics tonight. 

- Sam Hauser: He cooled off a little at the end but he came out strong from 3. And as usual, he was attacked on defense and he held his own. 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE

- Payton Pritchard’s shooting: Rough night for him, going just 3-12 from the field. But honestly, he didn’t play poorly. 

And this wasn’t a game where I had a lot of complaints. They let go of some leads, but they answered all of those moments. Their energy and execution was generally good. 

HIGHLIGHTS

ONE TAKE KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- Still a successful road trip

The loss to Cleveland sucked, but I don’t mind a humbling loss like that for a good team every once in a while. The loss to Denver sucked because everyone wants some tangible proof that a Finals matchup will go Boston’s way. But Nikola Jokic can be impossible to beat on some nights so I didn’t lose too much sleep over that one either. 

Then they got wins over Phoenix, Portland, and Utah. The win over the Suns was good because they held off a megastar talent in Kevin Durant who was seemingly willing his team to a win. They didn’t let down at all against Portland and they had answers all night in Utah

I had chalked this one up as a loss since the schedule dropped. But the Celtics, to their credit, never gave in to fatigue. Once again, when the excuse is there, the Celtics generally refuse to give in and take it. 

Meanwhile, their lead continues to grow in the East (and as of right now, Milwaukee is down almost 30 in the fourth), and in the NBA (OKC lost, so Boston is now six games ahead for the top overall seed).

Look at it like a baseball series. All you have to do is keep winning series and your record will take care of itself. Boston took three of five on the road. That works for me. 

Next Up: Boston returns home for one game against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night