SALT LAKE CITY — Kristaps Porzi??is and Jayson Tatum shone brightly as they led the Boston Celtics to an assertive 121-99 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday night.
Porzi??is was a dominant force, securing 27 points alongside 10 rebounds and dishing out six assists. Tatum complemented with a notable performance, contributing 26 points, six boards, six assists, and three steals in the Celtics’ impressive display. With this win, Boston marked their fourth consecutive victory and their ninth triumph in the past ten outings.
On the Utah side, Collin Sexton emerged as a significant scorer with an admirable 30 points from 12-of-15 field attempts. Keyonte George added 19 points and seven assists but could not prevent the Jazz from experiencing their seventh defeat in the last eight games.
The Celtics set the tone early on, with six of their initial seven baskets being successful 3-pointers, quickly giving them the upper hand. By the closing minute of the first quarter, they had carved out a comfortable 35-18 lead, largely powered by Tatum’s offensive prowess as he either scored or assisted in nine baskets.
The Jazz attempted a spirited comeback in the second half, spearheaded by Sexton. He surged with three quick 3-point baskets in the third quarter, which, alongside George’s contribution, reduced the Celtics’ lead to below ten. George’s timely 3-pointer brought the score to 71-69, but Boston was quick to respond.
Tatum promptly countered with his own three-pointer, igniting a decisive 13-0 run, re-establishing Boston’s control of the game.
Takeaways from the matchup include Boston’s excellent long-range shooting as they poured in 17 triples. Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser bolstered the effort, each contributing four 3-pointers.
For the Jazz, Sexton had another game to remember, with this being his second match of the season where he notched 12 field goals.
A pivotal moment occurred when, after a closing effort by George, Tatum hit a crucial step-back three-pointer just 19 seconds later. This shot instigated a 13-0 run that saw the Celtics extend their lead to 84-69 late in the third quarter.
A telling statistic of the game was Boston outscoring Utah 26-5 in points garnered from turnovers.
Looking ahead, both teams are scheduled to play on Sunday. The Celtics are set to face Portland, while the Jazz will take on Cleveland at home.