Jazz Trip Up Celtics

The Celtics were inches away from reclaiming their early‑season footing at home, but last night at the TD Garden, they were undone by a less talented Jazz team. A 10‑point halftime lead evaporated, and in the end, it was a dramatic put‑back by Jusuf Nurkić with 0.6 seconds remaining that sealed it for Utah. 

First Half: Frustration Breeds Sloppiness

Boston started fast early, but their rhythm never fully clicked. Missed open looks early on seemed to frustrate the team, and instead of pushing the pace and moving the ball as they usually do, the Celtics began forcing shots and settling for them. Even with a 10-point lead at halftime, it felt like they had abandoned their game plan — and that feeling only grew as the second half approached.

Second Half: Defense & Rebounding Collapse

Then the second half began. Utah quickly changed the game, outscoring the Celtics 25–14 in the first seven minutes after halftime to take their first lead of the night (61–60). Boston’s defense collapsed, allowing Utah to shoot over 65% from the field. On the rebounding end, the Celtics were outplayed, giving up key second‑chance points and failing to control the boards. The team’s lack of energy and discipline on both ends enabled a Jazz team coming off a back-to-back — and who had lost 23 straight at home — to outwork them in the final minutes.

Stand‑out Performances

On the Celtics’ side, it was a stat-filled night for Jaylen Brown — 36 points. The issue: 0‑for‑9 from three. Payton Pritchard scored 18, Derrick White added 10. But overall, they couldn't stop Utah from taking control.

For Utah it was Keyonte George turning in a season‑high 31, and Lauri Markkanen doing his thing with 20 points and 9 boards. Their poise down the stretch proved decisive.

Clutch & Messy Finish

With the game tied at 101 and just over a minute remaining, the Celtics seemed ready to take control at the end. But a defensive three‑second violation on Utah gave Boston new life with a free throw from White. Then came a costly no-call by the referees: Brown trips, turns the ball over, and Markkanen scores to put the Jazz ahead. Two possessions later, Pritchard forces a tough miss by George, but Queta doesn't box out or pursue the rebound, and Nurkic secures it. Game over.

Brown was visibly frustrated after the final horn. “You can't trip somebody in the 4th quarter and then just be a no-call. It's some bullshit...” he said. Nurkic’s put‑back was all that mattered in the end.

What It Means & Next Step

This loss hurts because it felt winnable. A double-digit lead, a home crowd, and early momentum. But the collapse reveals a series of issues: cold shooting leading to frustration, abandoning pace and ball movement, poor second-half defense, and weak rebounding. Most disappointing of all: the Celtics were outworked by a Jazz team coming off a back-to-back that had lost 23 straight at home. Boston drops to 3‑5. Utah improves to 3-4. 

The Celtics host the Washington Wizards next (Wednesday) — an important game early in the season, if they’re going to avoid digging a deeper hole. Time to reset, fix the shooting, regain pace, shore up defense, and bring the effort that should be standard in this league. A loss like last night’s not only calls into question their talent but also their toughness and heart.