Boston Celtics Dominate Utah Jazz in 126-97 Victory

In a stellar performance, Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to a resounding 126-97 win over the Utah Jazz on Friday night, securing an impressive 17-0 home record. Tatum’s outstanding contribution included 30 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in just 25 minutes of play.

Tatum’s first-half prowess was particularly noteworthy, scoring 23 points and sinking 13 out of 14 free throw attempts. The Celtics dominated the court, establishing a lead of as much as 36 points. This victory marked Boston’s ninth consecutive game scoring at least 120 points, tying a franchise record set back in the 1959-60 season.

Kristaps Porzingis chipped in with 19 points for the Celtics, supported by strong performances from Jrue Holiday (14 points), Jaylen Brown (13 points), and Sam Hauser (13 points). Derrick White contributed 10 points and seven rebounds.

Despite a commendable effort from the Jazz, with Lauri Markkanen leading the charge with 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists, Utah’s three-game winning streak came to an end. Collin Sexton finished with 13 points, while John Collins added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The Celtics strategically rested center Al Horford, a common practice for back-to-back games, as they look ahead to their matchup against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.

From the outset, Boston dominated, scoring the first 10 points of the game. Utah struggled to find their rhythm, making their first field goal with just under eight minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Jazz faced a challenging first quarter, shooting 5 of 27 from the field and trailing 30-15.

The second quarter saw the Celtics extending their lead to 42-15 by scoring the first 12 points. Utah finally got on the board with a Collins dunk, but Boston maintained a commanding 36-point lead at halftime, leading 71-40.

The Celtics continued their dominance in the third quarter, matching their largest lead of the game at 97-61 after a Tatum 3-pointer. Utah faced an uphill battle, trailing 107-75 at the end of the third quarter.

Boston’s exceptional performance and Tatum’s standout display secured another convincing victory, maintaining their perfect home record and setting the stage for future success in the NBA season.