10 takeaways from the Celtics’ rollercoaster win over the Jazz

#1 – A new lead down the drain

This Monday night game was another reminder that there are no days off in the NBA. You’re leading by more than 20 points against a team supposedly aiming for the first pick… and you end up in a tie game with three minutes to play.

How did this happen? Well, as Joe Mazzulla mentioned before the game, the Utah Jazz are a tough team to guard because of their constant movement. Utah mounted its comeback through offense, putting up 39 points in the fourth quarter.

#2 – With a heroic finish

Despite a chaotic fourth quarter, the Boston Celtics turned it around when it mattered most. Up 104-103, Jrue Holiday grabbed the offensive rebound off a missed Jaylen Brown free throw. At the end of the possession, he knocked down a corner three. It’s a small detail, but first, he baited John Collins into thinking he was heading to the dunker spot before smartly relocating to the corner as soon as Derrick White began his drive.

A couple of possessions later, Jaylen Brown forced another switch onto Walker Kessler. This duel had been ongoing all game, and so far, Kessler had done a solid job of slowing the Finals MVP down. However, late in the game, fatigue sets in… but not for Jaylen Brown.

Another poster for JB, reminding everyone that he’s still the best in-game dunker in the league. These two plays broke the Jazz’s momentum. On the next possession, Utah turned the ball over, leading to a Sam Hauser three that sealed the game.

#3 – Sam Hauser’s turn to break free

After Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Baylor Scheierman, it was Sam Hauser’s turn to set a new personal record. After a quiet first half, he erupted for 28 points in the second half, posting a ridiculous 88% True Shooting percentage.

Some of Hauser’s threes came from well-designed play calls by the Celtics’ coaching staff. After a timeout, they ran a set where Hauser set an off-ball screen for Jaylen Brown in a zoom action before cutting toward the basket. Then, he quickly turned back and sprinted to the three-point line, using a Queta screen. What initially looked like a play designed for Brown was actually a setup to free Hauser on the wing.

Most of his shots, however, came from transition and natural movement. Hauser doesn’t always need a play drawn up for him to get open and punish the defense. He’s learned how to move off the ball, both in transition and within half-court possessions.

His hot shooting gave the Celtics a big enough cushion to withstand Utah’s offensive explosion.

#4 – Jrue Holiday matching up with Walker Kessler

This is a classic Joe Mazzulla move, putting Jrue Holiday on the opposing center. Mazzulla loves experimenting with matchups, and by assigning Holiday to Kessler, the Celtics could keep Kornet closer to the rim while treating John Collins as a non-shooting threat.

While Holiday can hold his own against Kessler in the post, pick-and-roll defense becomes more challenging. Kessler is an easy target on the roll, making it harder for the Celtics to contain these actions.

Having Holiday on Kessler weakens pick-and-roll coverage, forcing help from the corners, something Mazzulla prefers to avoid. The young coach has made it clear that his defensive principles focus on limiting rim attempts and corner threes. Additionally, Holiday battling Kessler on box-outs created another issue: Utah’s offensive rebounding strategy.

#5 – Running after the rebounds

The Celtics’ coaching staff knew the Jazz would be aggressive on the offensive glass. The scouting report showed that Utah is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the league. Their size and physicality make them difficult to contain after missed shots. Plus, as a below-average offensive team, second-chance opportunities help them compensate for inefficiency.

Because of this approach, Utah is vulnerable in transition. As a result, the Celtics pushed the pace after rebounds more than usual. During the game, they turned 32% of their defensive rebounds into shot attempts, exceeding their usual rate of 23%.

When asked about it, Mazzulla downplayed any strategic adjustment, attributing the uptick in transition play to the number of ball-handlers on the floor. Regardless of the cause, the Celtics exploited one of Utah’s biggest weaknesses.

#6 – Jaylen Brown as the offensive leader

With Jayson Tatum out, Jaylen Brown was expected to lead the scoring charge. The game didn’t start well, as he piled up missed shots in isolation. Against Walker Kessler and Cody Williams, Brown struggled to find good spots and ended up taking difficult shots.

But being an offensive leader goes beyond isolation scoring. As we’ve seen this season, Brown has improved at finding open teammates. His playmaking ratio (assist rate divided by usage rate) has increased from the 27th percentile among wings to the 54th. Last night was another great example of his progress.

Whether in transition or half-court situations, Brown made up for his lack of scoring efficiency with strong playmaking. And when it mattered most, as discussed earlier, he rose above Kessler for a crucial dunk that gave the Celtics a late lead.

#7 – Closing the corners

Just like in the 2024 Finals against Dallas, the Celtics shut down the corners last night against Utah. This might seem minor, but the Jazz generate the third-most corner threes in the league—and they’re efficient from that zone. Corner threes often come from defensive breakdowns that force help rotations.

By staying in front of their man and executing smart defensive rotations, the Celtics forced Utah into taking more mid-range shots than usual. Take the play below, for example. Derrick White stayed tight on Isaiah Collier, using his hips and quick footwork to contain the drive. Holiday, instead of over-helping, positioned himself between the ball and the corner shooter, while Kornet dropped to protect the rim.

This positioning forced John Collins to settle for a contested mid-range jumper—the least efficient shot in basketball.

#8 – Baylor Scheierman’s impact

In just 12 minutes, Baylor Scheierman reminded everyone he’s more than just a shooter. He hustles constantly, and despite lacking the length and athleticism of Jordan Walsh, his defensive positioning and timing are more advanced.

Beyond his effort and rebounding instincts, Scheierman displayed a great feel for the game. His handle and passing ability allow him to make live-dribble passes, finding open teammates in stride.

At 24 years old, the rookie is already showing signs that he can be an impactful role player on a winning team.

#9 – D-White’s 10 assists

What Derrick White does often goes unnoticed. Last night, he played the point guard role to perfection, finishing with 10 assists and just one turnover. He directed the offense like an old-school floor general, calmly reading plays and delivering passes where they were needed.

Like Brown, White struggled with his own scoring but compensated by creating opportunities for teammates. His playmaking helped ignite Hauser’s big night. Without Tatum, the expectation was that White, Brown, or Pritchard would step up as the primary scorer—but instead, Hauser stole the show, reinforcing the depth of this Celtics team.

#10 – Sharpening the tools before Wednesday

In the postgame press conference, Jaylen Brown said that this time of year is about sharpening tools before the playoffs. Up next: Oklahoma City. A perfect test to see how sharp the Celtics really are.