The Boston Celtics improved their home record to 17-0 with a 126-97 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday night. Jayson Tatum played 25 minutes and finished with 30 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.

The Celtics built a 36-point lead at halftime, and Tatum contributed to it by making 13 of 14 free throw tries for 23 points. For the ninth game in a row, Boston has scored 120 points or more, tying a franchise record. With 14 from Jrue Holiday and 13 each from Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser, the Celtics were led by Kristaps Porzingis, who tacked on 19 points. Derrick White grabbed seven boards and scored ten points.

This was the final game of Utah’s three-game winning streak. The Jazz’ field goal percentage was 36.2% (39/94), while their 3-point percentage was 17.6% (6/34). The Jazz’ Lauri Markkanen finished with 17 points, 5 boards, and 5 assists. A total of 13 points came from Collin Sexton, while 12 points and 11 rebounds were recorded by John Collins. The Celtics rested center Al Horford since he usually doesn’t play when their games are on consecutive nights. On Saturday night, Boston will take on Indiana.

 

The first 10 points of the game were scored by Boston, and Utah didn’t kιck a field goal until 7 minutes and fifty-nine seconds into the first quarter, when Markkanen scored a driving dunk.

At the end of the first quarter, the Jazz had shot just 5% from the field and 12% from beyond the arc, putting them in a 30–15 deficit. After the first 12 minutes of the second quarter, the Celtics had built up a 42–15 lead. Collins dunk with 8 minutes and four seconds left in the half was the last point scored by Utah in the half. The Celtics went into halftime with a 71-40 lead, and after Holiday dunk it was 54-18. Boston led by 36 points. With 4 minutes and twenty seconds remaining in the third quarter, Boston extended its lead to 97-61 thanks to a 3-pointer by Tatum. At the end of the first half, Utah was down 107–75.