Once the Jazz went down 19, Hardy didn’t feel like he had much to lose. It looked like a 1-3-1 zone at times with switching and doubling, especially when Tatum or Brown had the ball. Olynyk and Markkanen asked Hardy to revisit the zone the Jazz had tried without much success earlier in the season. The Celtics led 64-57 at the half on the strength of 13 3-pointers and Tatum’s three free throws after being fouled with 0.4 seconds left in the second quarter. The Jazz weren’t at full strength either, with Jordan Clarkson (thumb) and Collin Sexton (hamstring) on the injured list.ĭespite Tatum going scoreless in the third quarter, Brogdon hit a 3 and fed Luke Kornet for a dunk to power a 16-3 Boston run and make it 91-85 with 39 seconds left in the third. Fortunately, Brogdon (Achilles) made his return. Regular Boston starters Marcus Smart (hip) and Al Horford (back) missed the game. Williams nearly pulled it off, but was one shot short. They were trying to get the ball out of my hands,” Tatum said. “I was just playing the game the right way. Meanwhile, the injury-riddled Celtics were looking for someone to score, and the Jazz were daring somebody other than Tatum to beat them. 28 and were coming off five days of rest after a six-game trip. The Jazz hadn’t played a home game since Feb. Kelly Olynyk had 13 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Jazz (34-36), who have won three of four. Kessler, who had 12 points and 14 rebounds, saved Utah’s comeback effort with the defensive play of the game and his third blocked shot. “Our defensive intensity picked up and our communication got better,” Utah coach Will Hardy said.Īfter Brown’s 3-pointer gave the Celtics a 117-113 lead with 1:19 to play, Markkanen made a 3-pointer and Horton-Tucker drove for a layup while Tatum missed two jumpers.īut the Jazz allowed the Celtics one last chance when Horton-Tucker dribbled for 20 seconds and then lost the ball out of bounds. The Celtics (49-23) made 22 3-pointers, one off their season high, but missed enough down the stretch for the Jazz to pull off the win. That left other Celtics wide open, especially in the corners as the Jazz scrambled to keep up. The Jazz played a hybrid zone defense at times and doubled Tatum whenever they could on the perimeter. “They started playing more aggressive and … we started playing a little more passively.” ![]() Jaylen Brown scored 25 points, Malcolm Brogdon had 16 and Tatum finished with 15, but was shut out in the second half as the short-handed Celtics were playing their third game in four nights. ![]() “That playoff intensity will just help this young team grow.” “We want to make the playoffs,” said Markkanen of his team that was universally picked near the bottom of the league before the season began. Talen Horton-Tucker had 19 points and Ochai Agbaji added 16 for the Jazz, who overcame a 19-point deficit to win and stay in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. It’s not why we lost, that last play,” Tatum said. The play was designed to go to Jayson Tatum on a dribble handoff, but Williams had 12 points in the fourth quarter and took it to the hoop. “I figured he was going to shot fake so I stayed down and tried to time it as best as I could and I got a hand on it,” Kessler said about his rejection at the rim. Grant Williams, who had 23 points and a career-high seven 3-pointers, was driving for a potential game-winner but ran into Kessler, who blocked his shot just before the final buzzer. SALT LAKE CITY - Lauri Markkanen scored 28 points and Walker Kessler had a game-saving block to help the Utah Jazz to a 118-117 comeback win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. ![]() Markkanen's scoring, Kessler's block lifts Jazz past Celtics
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