Celtics Have A Block Party, Avenge Loss To Jazz 100-95, Extend Home Streak To 11

Just 10 days after watching the Jazz put up an 18 point victory in their first game after the All-Star break, the Celtics came out with a much more balanced offensive attack and a better defensive focus on Monday night, including 14 blocks.

Small forward Jae Crowder led the C’s with 22 points and added one block, while All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas added 18 points and nine assists, and shooting guard Avery Bradley also scored 18 points. Thomas was able to finish off an alley-oop layup from Marcus Smart, with his back to the basket late in the first quarter.

Thomas also assisted on Crowder’s three that gave the Celtics the lead for good with 30 seconds remaining.

After the game Crowder said, per ESPN, “We’re really locking in, and being resilient and believing in one another. And we’re believing in what coach Brad draws up for us.  We’ve been doing a great job when it’s crunch time of finding the right shot. That takes lot of togetherness, and I think we’ve shown that. We gotta continue to show that to win games.”

Following Crowder’s shot, Bradley came up with a clutch block of Jazz forward Gordon Hayward trying to answer 10 seconds later, despite giving up six inches and 28 pounds to the fifth year Butler product.

“I love to take that challenge, to be able to get a stop for our team, because I want to win the game that bad,” Bradley told ESPN. “I’ll guard anybody for my team.”

Even with all of Utah’s starters putting up double-digit point totals, Jazz point guard Shelvin Mack tied for the team high 18 points,  and was the only one to shoot over 50% from the field.  Hayward and power forward Derrick Favors shot a combined 11-35 from the field for 27 points.  Impressive second year guard Rodney Hood was just 4-17 and had 11 points. Rookie forward Trey Lyles put up a double double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench.

According to ESPN, Hayward said, “I think these last two (losses) have been pretty deflating for us, We got to find a way to pick ourselves up. We got three more tough games on this trip. Tonight was one where we felt like we were in control early, but just couldn’t get stops.

“We got to learn from it and find a way to pick ourselves up.”

The teams are heading in opposite directions, Boston has won three straight games and currently sits third in the East, 7 games behind conference leading Cleveland, but only four and half back of Toronto, who also leads the Atlantic division.  Utah, meanwhile, has lost three straight games since beating Houston and has now fallen a half game behind the Rockets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

Both teams play again tomorrow night. Boston (36-25) will look to keep the momentum going when they host Portland (32-38) at 7pm, while Utah (28-31) will look to get back on the right track as they travel to Toronto (39-19).