Jayson Tatum scores 30 as Celtics use 3s, defense to smother Jazz 126-97
BOSTON (AP) Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and hit five 3-pointers to help the Boston Celtics run past the Utah Jazz 126-97 on Friday night.
Boston never trailed, led by as many as 36 points in the first half and made 17 3s for the night. The Eastern Conference leaders earned their seventh victory in eight games.
It was Tatum’s 14th 30-point game this season. Kristaps Porzingis added 19 points and Jrue Holiday finished with 14.
The Celtics have scored 120 or more points in nine straight games.
Porzingis said there isn't any magic formula to why things are clicking offensively.
“I think it's just the talent, honestly,” he said. “Us settling in a little bit to our roles and into our ways of playing. And we're just that talented to be honest. Tonight they were doubling JT and he was willing to make the right pass and the right play. That's an automatic, huge advantage for us.”
The loss snapped a three-game win streak for Utah, on a road trip to face the East’s top three teams, with Philadelphia and Milwaukee up next. The Jazz then returns home to host defending NBA champion Denver on Monday.
Utah tied a franchise-record with 154 points in an overtime win over Detroit on Wednesday but came out flat opposite a Celtics team that pushed the tempo and forced the Jazz into quick, unbalanced shots. Utah shot 36% (34 of 94) from the field and 18% from the 3-point line - both season lows.
Lauri Markkanen had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Utah was at times careless with the ball, turning it over 18 times, which Boston turned into 26 points.
“We just looked timid around the basket early in the game,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “I think we were pretty unphysical on the offensive end. We've been talking a lot about our physicality defensively. Tonight, I think our lack of physicality on the offensive end was exposed by a very good defensive team.”
The Jazz dropped to 5-15 on the road.
The Celtics were the aggressors early, scoring the game’s first 10 points. Utah had its first two shots of the night blocked and missed its first nine attempts, falling behind 12-2.
Boston ended the opening period with a 30-15 lead, punctuated by Holiday's 28-foot buzzer-beater. Utah shot just 18% in the quarter, going 1 for 12 from 3.
“Tonight's game was about taking away their speed with our physicality and our off-ball defense, and I thought we did that," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
UP NEXT
Jazz: Continue three-game road trip at Philadelphia on Saturday night.
Celtics: At Indiana on Saturday and Monday nights.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Lauri Markkanen vs. Kristaps Porzingis (Derrick White gains possession) | ||
| 11:46 | | Jaylen Brown turnover (bad pass) (Collin Sexton steals) | ||
| 11:42 |  | Jayson Tatum blocks Kris Dunn's two point running layup | ||
| 11:40 | | Simone Fontecchio offensive rebound | ||
| 11:40 | | Simone Fontecchio misses two point putback layup | ||
| 11:40 | | Jazz offensive rebound | ||
| 11:35 | | Jaylen Brown blocks Lauri Markkanen's two point cutting dunk | ||
| 11:31 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 11:29 | | John Collins shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 11:29 | | Jayson Tatum misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 11:29 | | Celtics offensive rebound | ||
| 11:29 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-1 |
| 11:14 | | Simone Fontecchio offensive foul (Charge) (Jaylen Brown draws the foul) | ||
| 11:14 | | Simone Fontecchio turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 11:04 | | +3 | Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 0-4 |
| 10:51 | | Lauri Markkanen misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:49 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 10:34 | | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point cutting layup (Jayson Tatum assists) | 0-6 |
| 10:22 | | Simone Fontecchio misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:21 | | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | ||
| 10:13 | | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point driving dunk | 0-8 |
| 10:00 | | Kris Dunn misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 9:58 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 9:42 | | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 0-10 |
| 9:28 | | Collin Sexton misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:26 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 9:22 | | Jrue Holiday misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 9:19 | | Kris Dunn defensive rebound | ||
| 9:17 | | Kristaps Porzingis shooting foul (Collin Sexton draws the foul) | ||
| 9:17 | | +1 | Collin Sexton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-10 |
| 9:17 | | +1 | Collin Sexton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-10 |
| 9:04 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:01 | | John Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 8:55 | | Collin Sexton misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 8:53 | | Derrick White defensive rebound | ||
| 8:45 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:42 | | John Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 8:29 | | John Collins misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 8:27 | | Derrick White defensive rebound | ||
| 8:23 | | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point running reverse layup | 2-12 |
| 8:21 | | Jazz 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:59 | | +2 | Lauri Markkanen makes two point driving dunk (Kris Dunn assists) | 4-12 |
| 7:49 | | Jayson Tatum misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:46 | | Collin Sexton defensive rebound | ||
| 7:37 | | +2 | Collin Sexton makes two point driving layup (Simone Fontecchio assists) | 6-12 |
| 7:28 | | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point jump shot (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 6-15 |
| 7:07 | | Simone Fontecchio misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:03 | | Kris Dunn offensive rebound | ||
| 6:59 | | +2 | Collin Sexton makes two point cutting layup (Lauri Markkanen assists) | 8-15 |
| 6:44 | | Collin Sexton personal foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 6:44 | | Celtics delay of game violation | ||
| 6:41 | | Jaylen Brown misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:37 | | Jordan Clarkson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:19 | | Kristaps Porzingis blocks Lauri Markkanen's two point cutting layup | ||
| 6:19 | | Lauri Markkanen offensive rebound | ||
| 6:15 | | Keyonte George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:10 | | Derrick White defensive rebound | ||
| 6:05 | | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point running jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 8-18 |
| 5:41 | | Jordan Clarkson misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 5:39 | | Sam Hauser defensive rebound | ||
| 5:34 | | +2 | Derrick White makes two point running layup | 8-20 |
| 5:22 | | Simone Fontecchio turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 5:15 | | +3 | Sam Hauser makes three point jump shot (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 8-23 |
| 4:57 | | +2 | Walker Kessler makes two point alley-oop layup (Lauri Markkanen assists) | 10-23 |
| 4:43 | | Derrick White misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:39 | | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | ||
| 4:26 | | Jordan Clarkson turnover (lost ball) (Oshae Brissett steals) | ||
| 4:21 | | +2 | Sam Hauser makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jaylen Brown assists) | 10-25 |
| 3:57 | | Lauri Markkanen misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:55 | | Derrick White defensive rebound | ||
| 3:46 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:44 | | Keyonte George defensive rebound | ||
| 3:29 | | Simone Fontecchio misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:27 | | Sam Hauser defensive rebound | ||
| 3:22 | | Derrick White misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:18 | | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | ||
| 3:00 | | Jordan Clarkson turnover (lost ball) (Sam Hauser steals) | ||
| 2:55 | | Jaylen Brown misses two point running layup | ||
| 2:53 | | Lauri Markkanen defensive rebound | ||
| 2:42 | | Keyonte George misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:38 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 2:23 | | Jaylen Brown misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:17 | | Simone Fontecchio defensive rebound | ||
| 2:15 | | Jordan Clarkson misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:12 | | Keyonte George offensive rebound | ||
| 2:09 | | Walker Kessler misses two point reverse layup | ||
| 2:04 | | Jordan Clarkson offensive rebound | ||
| 2:04 | | Jordan Clarkson misses two point tip layup | ||
| 2:03 | | Walker Kessler offensive rebound | ||
| 1:59 | | +3 | Keyonte George makes three point jump shot | 13-25 |
| 1:58 | | Celtics 60 second timeout | ||
| 1:46 | | Payton Pritchard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:42 | | John Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 1:29 | | Keyonte George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:26 | | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 1:23 | | Ochai Agbaji personal foul (Luke Kornet draws the foul) | ||
| 1:14 | | Jrue Holiday misses two point driving layup | ||
| 1:12 | | John Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 1:02 | | Payton Pritchard shooting foul (Keyonte George draws the foul) | ||
| 1:02 | | +1 | Keyonte George makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-25 |
| 1:02 | | +1 | Keyonte George makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-25 |
| 0:44 | | Payton Pritchard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:41 | | John Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 0:34 | | Kelly Olynyk misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:31 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 0:27 | | Ochai Agbaji shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 0:27 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-26 |
| 0:27 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-27 |
| 0:08 | | Ochai Agbaji misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:05 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | +3 | Jrue Holiday makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 15-30 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:42 | | Keyonte George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:38 | | Luke Kornet defensive rebound | ||
| 11:28 | | Jayson Tatum misses two point driving layup | ||
| 11:25 | | Luke Kornet offensive rebound | ||
| 11:21 | | +3 | Sam Hauser makes three point jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists) | 15-33 |
| 10:59 | | Jordan Clarkson turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 10:47 | | Luke Kornet misses two point reverse dunk | ||
| 10:46 | | Luke Kornet offensive rebound | ||
| 10:45 | | +2 | Luke Kornet makes two point putback layup | 15-35 |
| 10:45 | | Jazz 60 second timeout | ||
| 10:40 | | Payton Pritchard personal foul (Keyonte George draws the foul) | ||
| 10:26 | | Jordan Clarkson turnover (bad pass) (Jayson Tatum steals) | ||
| 10:23 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point running dunk | 15-37 |
| 10:06 | | John Collins misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 10:04 | | Luke Kornet defensive rebound | ||
| 9:58 | | Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:52 | | Kelly Olynyk defensive rebound | ||
| 9:43 | | Jordan Clarkson misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:40 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 9:32 | | Kelly Olynyk shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 9:32 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 15-38 |
| 9:32 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 15-39 |
| 9:32 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 15-40 |
| 9:21 | | Jrue Holiday personal foul (Kelly Olynyk draws the foul) | ||
| 9:12 | | Jrue Holiday blocks Collin Sexton's two point driving layup | ||
| 9:09 | | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 8:52 | | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point driving layup (Payton Pritchard assists) | 15-42 |
| 8:37 | | Jordan Clarkson misses two point driving layup | ||
| 8:35 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 8:30 | | John Collins blocks Jayson Tatum's two point running layup | ||
| 8:27 | | John Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 8:21 | | Ochai Agbaji misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:18 | | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 8:13 | | Payton Pritchard turnover (bad pass) (Jordan Clarkson steals) | ||
| 8:04 | | +2 | John Collins makes two point cutting dunk (Kelly Olynyk assists) | 17-42 |
| 7:42 | | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point stepback jump shot | 17-45 |
| 7:42 | | John Collins shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 7:42 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 17-46 |
| 7:30 | | Derrick White blocks Collin Sexton's two point driving layup | ||
| 7:27 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 7:24 | | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point pullup jump shot (Derrick White assists) | 17-49 |
| 7:12 | | Derrick White personal foul (Lauri Markkanen draws the foul) | ||
| 7:00 | | Kelly Olynyk misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:58 | | Lauri Markkanen offensive rebound | ||
| 6:56 | | Jayson Tatum shooting foul (Lauri Markkanen draws the foul) | ||
| 6:56 | | +1 | Lauri Markkanen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-49 |
| 6:56 | | Lauri Markkanen misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 6:56 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 6:40 | | Kristaps Porzingis turnover (lost ball) (Collin Sexton steals) | ||
| 6:36 | | Kris Dunn turnover (bad pass) (Derrick White steals) | ||
| 6:31 | | Jaylen Brown turnover (bad pass) (Kelly Olynyk steals) | ||
| 6:26 | | Kris Dunn misses two point running layup | ||
| 6:23 | | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | ||
| 6:20 | | Kris Dunn shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 6:20 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-50 |