The Celtics look to finish their highway journey on a constructive word as they tackle the Utah Jazz. That is the 2nd and remaining assembly between these two groups this season. The Celtics gained 126-97 on January 5 in Boston. They break up the collection 1-1 final season with every staff successful on their dwelling court docket. The Celtics are 61-46 all time general towards the Jazz and 22-31 in video games performed in Utah.
The Celtics are enjoying on the second night time of again to again video games. They’re 8-2 on the second night time of again to again video games to date. They’re 2-1 when the each of the video games within the again to again set are on the highway. The Jazz have had 2 days off, final enjoying on Saturday.
The Celtics stay 1st within the East, 8.5 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 9 video games forward of third place Cleveland, 12.5 video games forward of 4th place New York, 13 video games forward of fifth place Orlando and 13.5 video games forward of sixth place Philadelphia. They’re 20-11 on the highway and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 16-7 towards Western Convention groups. They’re coming off a win of their final recreation.
The Jazz are twelfth within the West, 9.5 video games behind sixth place Phoenix, 8.5 video games behind seventh place Sacramento, 6 video games behind tenth place Golden State and 1 recreation behind eleventh place Houston. They’re 6.5 video games forward of thirteenth place Memphis. They’re 19-12 at dwelling and 2-8 of their final 10 video games. They’re 14-13 towards Japanese Convention groups and so they have misplaced their final 2 video games.
The Celtics are enjoying within the remaining recreation of a 5 recreation highway journey. They misplaced the primary two video games towards Cleveland and Denver after which gained in Phoenix and gained in Portland. They may go dwelling for a recreation towards Phoenix earlier than going through Washington on the highway. They then have dwelling video games towards Detroit and Milwaukee earlier than a 6 recreation highway journey by means of Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta (twice), New Orleans and Charlotte.
The Jazz Have been off for two days after dropping a recreation to Denver on Saturday. They’re enjoying within the first of a 4 recreation dwelling stand. They may host Atlanta and Minnesota twice earlier than a 3 recreation highway journey by means of Oklahoma Metropolis, Dallas, and Houston. They then return dwelling for a 3 recreation dwelling stand towards Dallas, San Antonio and Houston.
Al Horford is listed as out for this recreation as a result of a toe damage. Jaylen Brown will miss this recreation as a result of a sacroiliac straing. Kristaps Porzingis stays out with the hamstring damage and can miss his third straight recreation. Svi Mykhailiuk is questionable as a result of private causes and can miss his second straight recreation. I’m going to guess that Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet will get the beginning.
For the Path Blazers, Taylor Hendricks is out with a ligament sprain in his left large toe. Lauri Markkanen has already been dominated out for this recreation. Markkanen will miss his fourth consecutive recreation as he tries to heal from a proper quad contusion.
Possible Celtics Starters
Grid View
PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Sam HauserPF: Jayson TatumC: Luke Kornet
Celtics ReservesOshae BrissettPayton PritchardJordan Walsh Xavier TillmanJaden Springer
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonNeemias Queta
Accidents/OutAl Horford (relaxation) outSvi Mykhailiuk (private) questionableKristaps Porzingis (hamstring) outJaylen Brown (sacroiliac) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Jazz Starters
Grid View
PG: Keyonte GeorgeSG: Collin SextonSF: Brice SensabaughPF: John CollinsC: Walker Kessler
Jazz ReservesJordan ClarksonKris DunnTalen Horton-TuckerTaevion KinseyKira Lewis, JrKenneth Lofton, JrLuka SamanicOmer Yurtseven
Two Approach Gamers Johnny JuzangMicah Potter Jason Preston
Accidents/Out Taylor Hendricks (toe) outLauri Markkanen (quad) out
Head Coach Will Hardy
Key Matchups
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Derrick White vs Collin SextonSexton is averaging 18.2 factors, 2.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 48.3% from the sector and 40.4% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season, he completed with 13 factors, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and three steals. He shot 41.7% from the sector however didn’t hit a 3.
Grid View
Jayson Tatum vs John Collins Collins is averaging 14.6 factors, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. He’s taking pictures 52.8% from the sector and 33.8% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season he had 12 factors, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block. He shot 62.5% from the sector however didn’t hit a 3.
Honorable MentionLuke Kornet vs Walker Kessler Kessler is averaging 8.4 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists and a pair of.7 blocks. He’s taking pictures 64.2% from the sector and 21.1% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season he completed with 4 factors and seven rebounds. He shot 66.7% and didn’t make a 3 pointer. He’s a risk to dam pictures and so the Celtics want to pay attention to him once they go to the ring.
Keys to the Sport Protection – Protection is the important thing to successful every recreation. The Celtics are 2nd within the league with a defensive ranking of 110.3 whereas the Jazz are twenty seventh with a defensive ranking of 118.9. The Celtics are 4th in factors per recreation with 120.7 whereas the Jazz are ninth with 117.7 factors per recreation. The Jazz have some superb 3 level shooters on the staff and they’re ninth with 37.1 three pointers tried per recreation so the Celtics have to play good perimeter protection. However in addition they should defend within the paint because the Jazz are fifth with 54.1 factors within the paint per recreation. The Celtics should proceed to make protection a precedence to win this recreation.
Rebound – A lot of rebounding is effort and when the Celtics put out that effort on the boards, we see it within the different areas of their recreation. The Celtics are averaging 47.2 rebounds per recreation (1st) whereas the Jazz are averaging 46.2 rebounds per recreation, which is third within the league. The Jazz are 1st with 16.8 second probability factors per recreation and the Celtics should have each participant battle for rebounds to restrict these 2nd probability factors. If the Celtics wish to win this recreation they should crash the boards and beat the Jazz to rebounds.
Be Aggressive – The Celtics have to come back out and be aggressive proper from the opening tip. They must be aggressive on protection, driving to the basket, rebounding, diving for unfastened balls and simply enjoying tougher normally. They should get off to a powerful begin and play onerous proper up till the ultimate buzzer. They’ll’t let the Jazz outwork them for any time period as a result of it doesn’t matter how good a staff is, if they permit opponents to play tougher than them, they’ll lose to any staff.
Focus for 48 Minutes – The Celtics want to remain targeted for 48 minutes. They must concentrate on taking good pictures and making them. Additionally they must preserve that effort and focus up for 48 minutes with no let up and no collapse. They’ll’t afford to get complacent as a result of the Jazz have a dropping file and have gained simply 2 of their final 10 video games. The ultimate recreation of a highway journey is at all times the hardest. The Celtics want to remain targeted on successful regardless of the circumstances.
X-FactorsBack to Again On the Highway – The Celtics are enjoying within the remaining recreation of a 5 recreation roadtrip. They’ve to remain targeted on enjoying Celtics basketball and block out all of the distractions that come from enjoying on the highway like journey, enjoying in a distinct time zone, staying in accommodations and a hostile crowd. They’re additionally enjoying in again to again video games and within the third recreation in 4 nights. Fatigue could also be an element down the stretch on this recreation.
Teaching – Joe Mazzulla and Will Hardy are each former Celtics assistant coaches and each are 2nd yr head coaches who’ve completed effectively of their first season. Joe Mazzulla gained the primary spherical in Boston. Which former assistant will lead their staff to the win on this one?
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Will they allow them to play or will they name each ticky tack foul? Will they favor the house staff? We by no means know what any given crew will do. The Celtics want to remain targeted and never enable unhealthy calls or lack of calls take away their composure and take them out of their recreation.
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