Final: Celtics 126, Jazz 97 - Start to finish demolition

BOSTON CELTICS vs. UTAH JAZZ

7:00 p.m. - NBC Sports Boston

Line: Boston -13.5

INJURIES

Boston: Al Horford (OUT, rest)

Utah: None

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. Dealing with Walker Kessler: Don’t look now, but Kessler is the best rim protector in the league, with better numbers than Rudy Gobert. The Celtics have had their moments being bothered by elite rim protectors. 

“it comes down to just our offense. How can we space them? How can we attack? Do we make the right rim reads?” Joe Mazzulla said. “I think with our identity of playing faster in transition has helped us eliminate some of that rim protection because we're getting out and playing in open space, getting those easy baskets. I thought we've gotten really good at that in the last 10 games and we just have to continue that.”

2. Keeping pace: The Jazz play hard, and they have annoying guys like Simone Fontcchio who bust their butts and defend at a high level. He’s 6’7” and he’ll spend plenty of time hounding Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Celtics can’t look at this 13.5 point spread and think this is going to be easy.

3. Jrue Holiday bounceback: He had his worst game of the season in OKC. It’s hard to fathom back-to-back defensive duds out of him. I want to see him lock up Jordan Clarkson and get a little redemption. 

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.