Utah Jazz Dominate Fourth Quarter To Sweep Season Series Against Celtics
Mar 16, 2021, 8:02 PM | Updated: 8:56 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz played impressive basketball during the final 12 minutes of game time to sweep the season series against the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics hosted the Jazz at TD Garden in Boston on Tuesday, March 16.
Utah outscored Boston by 10 points in the fourth to win the game, 117-109.
The Jazz won the first meeting of the season on February 9.
The @utahjazz beat the @celtics 117-109!
Jazz sweep the season series with the Celtics.
Donovan Mitchell had 21 to lead the Jazz, Jordan Clarkson had 20 points off the bench.#takeNote pic.twitter.com/BKIEdI0GPt
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 17, 2021
Slow Start, Strong Finish
The Jazz have experienced problems turning the ball over as of late. Tuesday night started with those same problems.
Utah committed multiple errors in the opening minutes of play and trailed Boston 16-5 midway through the first quarter.
What looked like a long night for the Jazz turned around quickly. Three-pointers, less errors, and better defense helped Utah cut the double-digit deficit to only two points at the end of the first quarter.
Mike ➡️ Rudy#PowerfulConnections | @Xfinity pic.twitter.com/R18aQIdXUA
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) March 17, 2021
The two teams hung neck-and-neck over next 12 minutes and the Jazz went into the locker room at halftime with a one-point lead.
Boston battled back in the third quarter and went into the final quarter with a two-point advantage.
Over the final 12 minutes, Utah appeared to be the same team that beat Boston a month prior.
Simply put, Rudy Gobert dominated the fourth quarter on both ends of the court.
😳😳😳#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/YWTp7yI1v6
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) March 17, 2021
Gobert finished the game with 16 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, and four blocks. He posted a team-high plus-14 rating during 33 minutes on the floor.
Rudy Gobert has 20 blocks in his last 5 games.
It's his second best stretch of the season.
"The funny thing is, I don't really chase blocks."
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 17, 2021
All-Stars Gobert, Mitchell, and Mike Conley, scored 15 of Utah’s final 19 points and helped the Jazz win the quarter, 40-30.
Spida coming up CLUTCH 🕷 pic.twitter.com/OyDnmtWnWj
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 17, 2021
Jazzed Up
Although it wasn’t his best shooting night, Mitchell finished with a team-high 21 points on 6-16 field goals. He added two rebounds, five assists, and one steal.
🕷 @spidadmitchell 🕷 pic.twitter.com/Vnb904P5mm
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) March 17, 2021
Conley poured in 17 points on 6-12 shooting. He also dished out five assists.
Jordan Clarkson added 20 points off the bench and made five three-pointers in the win.
For those of you keeping score at home: JC has 65 straight games with a three 😎#MACU3 | @MountainAmerica pic.twitter.com/6L35zB400j
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) March 17, 2021
Bojan Bogdanovic and Joe Ingles each scored in double figures as well.
Utah ended the night shooting 47.5 percent overall and 44.2 percent from downtown.
Quin Snyder on Bojan Bogdadnovic:
"He's a guy that's been finding his rhythm as the season goes on … he got going tonight on the post in addition to scoring the ball and getting fouled, he made a couple great passes out of the post."
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 17, 2021
Boston Celtics
Boston shot 49.0 percent from the field and 34.5 percent on triples.
The Celtics had five players score in double figures.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 29 points. Jaylen Brown added 28 points.
Jaylen Brown too smooth 🤧 pic.twitter.com/aOZWFNt9oV
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 17, 2021
Up Next
With the win, the Jazz improved their NBA-best record to 29-10 on the season, including 13-8 on the road.
It was also Quin Snyder’s 300th win as Utah’s head coach.
Quin Snyder earned his 300th career victory as the @utahjazz beat the @celtics 117-109. #takeNote https://t.co/bVw1kzvHYA
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 17, 2021
Utah’s next game is against the Washington Wizards on Thursday, March 18 at 5 p.m. (MDT). The game will broadcast on NBA TV, AT&T SportsNet, and 97.5 FM.