Boston Celtics (19-12) at Utah Jazz (12-19)Tuesday, December 30, 20259:00 PM ETRegular Season Recreation #32 Street Recreation #17TV: NBCSB, KTZZ, NBA-LPRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, KSL 97.5, Sirius XMDelta Middle
The Celtics go to the Utah Jazz for the 2nd and closing assembly between these two groups this season. The Jazz received the primary assembly 105-103 in Boston on November 3. The Celtics received the collection 2-0 final season successful at house and on the street. The Celtics are 63-47 in opposition to the Jazz total, all time. They’re 24-31 all time in video games performed in Utah. Utah final performed on Saturday and Boston final performed Sunday. Each play once more on New Yr’s Day.
These groups have fairly just a few connections between them. To begin with, after taking part in for the Celtics from 1981-1989 after which serving because the Basic Supervisor for the Celtics for 18 years, Danny Ainge is now the CEO of basketball operations and alternate governor of the Utah Jazz. Will Hardy was an assistant coach for the Celtics earlier than being employed as the top coach of the Jazz. Svi Mykhailiuk performed on the Celtics 2024 championship crew. Georges Niang was traded to the Celtics within the offseason however was traded to the Jazz earlier than taking part in for the Celtics. Jazz assistant coach Jason Terry performed one season for the Celtics in 2012-13.
The Jazz made just a few vital modifications within the off season. They traded Collin Sexton to Charlotte for Jusuf Nurkic. They traded John Collins to the Clippers in a 3 crew commerce that introduced again Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson. They traded RJ Luis to Boston for Georges Niang. They misplaced Jordan Clarkson as a free agent to the Knicks and waived Jaden Springer. In addition they added Ace Bailey with the fifth decide within the draft and Walter Clayton, Jr with the 18th decide within the draft.
The Celtics are third within the East, 4.5 video games behind 1st place Detroit, and three video games behind 2nd place New York. They’re 1 sport forward of 4th place Toronto, 1.5 video games forward of fifth place Orlando and a pair of.5 video games forward of sixth place Philadelphia and seventh place Miami. The Celtics are 4-4 in opposition to Western Convention opponents. They’re 9-7 on the street and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They misplaced their final sport after successful the earlier 4 video games.
The Jazz are eleventh within the West, 6 video games behind seventh place Phoenix, 3.5 video games behind eighth place Golden State, 2.5 video games behind ninth place Memphis and half a sport behind tenth place Portland. They’re 1 sport forward of twelfth place Dallas and a pair of video games forward of the thirteenth place Clippers. They’re 5-5 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents. They’re 8-10 at house and 4-6 of their final 10 video games. They’ve received their final 2 video games.
That is the third sport of a 5 sport street journey. They began the journey with a win in Indiana after which misplaced in Portland. They’ll proceed the journey by means of Sacramento and the LA Clippers. All 5 groups on this street journey are under .500. After the journey, they may head house for a 4 sport house stand the place they host Chicago, Denver, Toronto, and San Antonio earlier than a 4 sport street journey by means of Indiana as soon as once more, Miami, Atlanta and the ultimate sport at Detroit.
After this sport at house, Utah will begin a 4 sport street journey on Thursday that may take them by means of the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State, Portland and Oklahoma Metropolis. They’ll then host Dallas and Charlotte earlier than one other 5 sport street journey by means of Cleveland, Chicago, Dallas (twiice) and San Antonio. Then they’ve a 6 sport house stand the place they may host Minnesota, San Antonio, Miami, the LA Clippers, Golden State and Brooklyn.
Jayson Tatum (Achilles) and Chris Boucher (private) are as soon as once more out for the Celtics. Kevin Love missed Saturday’s sport for relaxation and might be rested on this sport as nicely. Ace Bailey will miss his second straight sport on account of a left hip pressure. George Niang has but to make his season debut on account of a stress response in his left foot and can miss this sport. Walker Kessler underwent shoulder surgical procedure to restore a torn labrum and can miss the rest of the 2025-26 season. Keyonte George is questionable on account of a non-covid sickness.
Possible Beginning Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Keyonte George
SG: Payton Pritchard vs Brice Sensabaugh
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Svi Mykhailiuk
PF: Jordan Walsh vs Lauri Markkanen
Middle: Neemias Queta vs Jusuf Nurkic
Celtics ReservesAnfernee SimonsHugo GonzalezXavier TillmanJosh MinottSam HauserLuka GarzaBaylon Scheierman2-Manner PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaAmari WilliamsInjuries/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) outChris Boucher (private) out
Jazz ReservesKyle AndersonIsaiah CollierWalter Clayton, JrKyle FilipowskiTaylor HendricksCody WilliamsTwo Manner PlayersElijah HarklessJohn TonjeOscar TshiebweInjuries/OutAce Bailey (hip) outWalker Kessler (shoulder) outGeorges Niang (foot) outKevin Love (relaxation) outKeyonte George (sickness) questionableHead CoachWill Hardy
Key MatchupsJordan Walsh vs Lauri MarkkanenMarkkanen is main the Jazz with 27.9 factors, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steal per sport. He’s capturing 47.6% from the sector and 36.7% from past the arc. He makes an attempt 8.2 threes a sport. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 20 factors, 9 rebounds, and a pair of assists whereas capturing 41.2% from the sector and 33.3% from past the arc. He’s a handful for any crew to defend and the Celtics can solely hope to sluggish him down.
Derrick White vs Keyonte GeorgeGeorge is averaging 24.2 factors, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per sport. He’s capturing 45% from the sector and 36.7% from past the arc, capturing 6.9 threes a sport. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, George completed with 31 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal whereas capturing 56.3% from the sector and 40% from past the arc. Derrick White took the blame for Sunday’s loss and so I count on an excellent sport from him on this one. George is questionable on account of sickness and might be a sport time choice.
Honorable MentionNeemias Queta vs Jusuf NurkicNurkic is averaging 9.3 factors, 9.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per sport. He’s capturing 48.4% from the sector and 30.2% from past the arc on 1.5 threes tried per sport. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics he completed with 11 factors, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block whereas capturing 41.7% from the sector and going 0-2 on three pointers.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is all the time the important thing to successful video games. The Celtics are 14th with a defensive score of 114.2. The Jazz are twenty ninth with a defensive score of 121.3. The Jazz are twelfth with an offensive score of 115.0 and the Celtics are 4th with an offensive score of 120.8. The Celtics might want to play powerful protection to restrict their scoring on this one. They should particularly defend the perimeter the place the Jazz are eighth, taking 39.6 threes a sport and they’re ninth, making 14.1 threes a sport.
Rebound – Rebounding could be the largest key to successful proper now for the reason that Celtics’ losses are largely as a result of they weren’t capable of rebound. The Jazz are eighth with 45.2 rebounds per sport whereas the Celtics are twentieth with 43.9 rebounds per sport. They merely must struggle tougher than the Jazz to seize rebounds. Each Celtic has bought to crash the boards and struggle for each rebound. Their effort on the boards will make all of the distinction.
Don’t Underestimate – For the third straight sport, the Celtics are going through a crew that’s underneath .500 with a number of gamers out. It could be simple for the Celtics to underestimate the Jazz and count on a simple win in opposition to a shorthanded 12-19 crew. However that may be a mistake as a result of this Jazz crew has already crushed the Celtics as soon as this season. Of their final 2 video games, the Jazz have crushed the Pistons and the Spurs so that they aren’t a simple crew to beat. The Celtics have to return out robust from the beginning and play onerous proper up till the ultimate buzzer. The Jazz are very able to beating them in the event that they don’t play their greatest.Effort and Focus – Towards the TrailBlazers, the Celtics lacked effort for a lot of the sport. In addition they lacked focus as they turned the ball over 19 occasions and shot simply 29.5% from past the arc. The Celtics should keep targeted on taking part in the proper means and on taking and making good pictures. In addition they have to remain targeted on dealing with the ball and on making good passes. They’ve to remain targeted and play with most effort for all 48 minutes.X-FactorsOn the Street – The Celtics are taking part in within the third sport of a 5 sport street journey. They’ve to remain targeted on taking part in Celtics basketball and block out all of the distractions that come from taking part in on the street like journey, taking part in in a special time zone, staying in lodges and in entrance of a hostile crowd.
Teaching – Joe Mazzulla and Will Hardy are each former Celtics assistant coaches and each are third 12 months head coaches who’ve executed nicely of their first 2 seasons. After all, Joe received a title so he did a lot better than Hardy in his second season. Joe Mazzulla received each video games final season however he misplaced the primary sport in Boston this season. Which former assistant will lead their crew to the win on this one?
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Will they allow them to play or will they name each ticky tack foul? Will they favor the house crew or will they name it evenly? 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 their focus off of the sport.
