At the end of the season, the Celtics demonstrate night after night that they will be ready for the play-offs. After slapping Milwaukee and sending a message to the entire NBA (140-99), Jayson Tatum and his family scored another success against the Jazz (122-114) thanks in particular to the winger’s 39 points.
Joe Mazzulla’s men quickly made the break, going 30-22 in the second quarter and then 36-27 in the third quarter. In addition to the high-level performance delivered by their franchise player, the Celtics were able to count on a supporting cast at the rendezvous. Despite a struggling Jaylen Brown offensively (12 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists at 5/19 shooting), the C’s relied on the good score of Malcolm Brogdon (19 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists) and the 17 Derrick White units. Best rebounder of the game with 12 catches, Blake Griffin also delivered five services in addition to his six points.
A second place that should not move
Opposite, Utah has however dominated its vis-à-vis in the paint (68 points in total, 22 less for Boston). Talen Horton-Tucker (28 points) and Walker Kessler (20 points, 10 rebounds) tried to keep the Jazz in the game, but the burst came too late. Fifteen points behind their opponent at the start of the last quarter, the deficit was too great to hope for a victory, despite a satisfactory run (36-29), (122-114 in the end).
Boston is second in the Eastern Conference four games from the end of the regular season. If the Bucks are out of reach (55 v. – 22 d.), the Massachusetts franchise (54 v. – 24 d.), barring an accident, should finish ahead of the Sixers, third (51 v. – 26 d.). In the West, Utah is 12th.
