Boston Celtics

Jeremy Rincon

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Highlights: Walker Kessler and Ochai Agbaji

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Highlights: Jazz 114 | Celtics 122

Ryan Kostecka

With Utah known for having one of the loudest and most passionate fan bases in the NBA, Saturday night at Vivint Arena was an epic battle between the Jazz and Celtics respective fan bases.

With each fan base exchanging chants throughout the arena, Jazz Nation got the last say. Riding the energy from the crowd, Utah ended the game on a 10-3 run to pick up the 118-117 victory over Boston.

"That's a really good team who we have a lot of respect for," Hardy said. "It was a really good environment tonight in our building. … I thought our fans were fantastic. Very proud of our team, that's a really good win against a very good team. Again, sticking with it the entire game after being down 19 early. … We adjusted, and the guys continued to battle."

Here are five things to know following the win.

1.) Another Close GameSaturday night was so special because it wasn't one star carrying the team. All five starters made clutch plays over the final few minutes, helping lead to the win.

Trailing by six with 2:31 to go, Lauri Markkanen kickstarted the comeback with a pair of free throws. Ochai Agbaji hit a big three to make it a one-point game, but Jaylen Brown responded for Boston with a three. Markkanen again was the answer for the Jazz, knocking down a three to make it a one-point game with 1:11 remaining.

After getting a stop defense, Talen Horton-Tucker scored the game-winner with a layup with 35 seconds remaining. The Jazz got another stop, but Horton Tucker turned the ball over with five seconds remaining, giving Boston one last chance. The Celtics got the ball to Grant Williams at the post, and after getting around Markkanen, his shot was blocked by Walker Kessler, sealing the comeback win for the Jazz.

"You can't simulate that," Hardy said of playing in the clutch. "That stuff is so big for the growth of our team and our young players. To be in the moment and be responsible for executing to try and win the game, that's important for us. It's also really important for us moving forward. … For our guys to battle and be in that close game is great experience for us. It's great to get the win."

2.) Markkanen Thrives In The FourthFew teams in the league are better equipped to deal with Markkanen's impressive skillset than Boston — which meant that Markkanen knew it would be tough for him on Saturday night. The Celtics were equipped to throw multiple individual defenders at him, all while playing excellent team defense using their length to make life difficult.

Although it wasn't easy, Markkanen showed why he's considered a legitimate All-NBA candidate when he finished with his 27th double-double of the season. He finished with a game-high 28 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists.

While buckets were hard to come by, Markkanen saved his best for last when he dropped 12 points and three rebounds in the final eight minutes. He shot 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from deep during that span.

3.) Agbaji Shows GrowthWith so many players making big plays at the end, Agbaji's three in the final minutes showed how much his game has grown. Coming off a dribble handoff with Kelly Olynyk, the rookie rose from beyond the arc and calmly drilled the deep three.

While that shot itself was Agbaji's fourth three of the night, the fact that he never hesitated and took the shot impressed Hardy. He finished with 16 points and three rebounds, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. He also was great defensively, helping limit Boston star Jayson Tatum to just 15 points on 4-of-12 from the floor.

When asked postgame where he's seen his game grow so much, Agbaji quickly pointed out that he's now playing on instinct rather than being so mechanical. He's much more comfortable with the speed of the game, and it's allowed him to take massive steps forward.

"Just the position I'm in now, I'm not really thinking," he said. "I'm just going out there and paying. … I'm reacting and playing, not really thinking about anything."

"That was the biggest moment for me," Hardy said. "The fact that he took that shot, much less made the shot, that he took that shot is a huge part of growth. I don't think a month ago he even looked at the basket in that situation."

4.) Kessler Is a GoldfishAn analogy that some may not understand, Kessler is a goldfish — and that's an incredible compliment. Coming from the TV show Ted Lasso, it's known that goldfishes have the shortest memory of any animal — which means they never let the past dictate their future.

And that's precisely what Kessler was on Saturday night.

After being fouled while on a fast break dunk attempt, officials ruled the foul a flagrant, which sent Kessler to the line for two shots with the team down two with less than two minutes to go. Instead of cutting into the deficit, he missed both free throws, and the Jazz lost some much-needed momentum.

But Kessler overcame those two misses when he blocked Boston's Grant Williams' shot attempt with three seconds left to secure the win. He finished with his fifth double-double of March, dropping 12 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks.

5.) Five In Double FiguresAfter already directing just how good Markkanen, Agbaji, and Kessler were on Saturday night, it can't be understated just how special the rest of the starters were.

Horton-Tucker finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, finishing with a +11 rating in 28 minutes. He was particularly effective in the second quarter when he helped Utah climb back into the game after being 19 early.

But the unsung hero of the night had to be Olynyk.

Already referred to as "connective tissue" by Hardy, Olynyk did a little bit of everything against the Celtics. He finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists — but most importantly, he was a +18 rating in 29 minutes.

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"You Can't Simulate That" | Five Things To Know Following Utah's Victory Over Boston

Speaking with media pregame, both Utah head coach Will Hardy and Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla openly acknowledged their friendship after serving as assistant coaches with the Celtics last season.

While they've been supporters for one another this season, they also made it clear that there would be no pleasantries during the 48 minutes of game time — Saturday night was all about business.

In one of the more dramatic games of the season, Utah came up with big shot after big shot — before a huge block — as they battled back to take down Boston 118-117 on Saturday night.

"Very proud of our team, that's a really good win against a very good team," Hardy said postgame. "Again, sticking with it the entire game after being down 19 early. … We adjusted and the guys continued to battle. Our defensive intensity picked up, and our communication was good."

Saturday night was so special because it wasn't one star carrying the team. All five starters made clutch plays over the final few minutes, helping lead to the win.

After getting a stop defense, Talen Horton-Tucker scored the game-winner with a layup with 35 seconds remaining. The Jazz got another stop, but Horton Tucker turned the ball over with five seconds remaining, giving Boston one last chance.

The Celtics got the ball to Grant Williams at the post, and after getting around Markkanen, his shot was blocked by Walker Kessler, sealing the comeback win for the Jazz.

"You can't simulate that," Hardy said of playing in the clutch. "That stuff is so big for the growth of our team and our young players. To be in the moment and be responsible for executing to try and win the game, that's important for us."

"It's also really important for us moving forward. … For our guys to battle and be in that close game is great experience for us. It's great to get the win."

Few teams in the league are better equipped to deal with Markkanen's impressive skillset than Boston — which meant that Markkanen knew life would be tough for him on Saturday night.

Although it wasn't easy, Markkanen showed why he's considered a legitimate All-NBA candidate when he finished with a game-high 28 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists. He came alive in the fourth, scoring 12 points to help the Jazz complete the comeback.

After emerging as one of the top rookie shot blockers and rim protectors in the NBA, Kessler continues to impress and show up when the team needs him most. He overcame two missed free throws in the final two minutes to get the game-winning block with three seconds left — proof of how advanced he is despite being a rookie.

He finished with his fifth double-double of March, dropping 12 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks.

With so many players making big plays at the end, Agbaji's three showed how much his game has grown. Coming off a dribble handoff with Kelly Olynyk, the rookie rose from beyond the arc and calmly drilled the deep three.

While that shot itself was Agbaji's fourth three of the night, it was the fact that he took that most impressed Hardy postgame. He's no longer playing methodically and thinking through the game; he's matured enough to play solely on instinct, and the Jazz are reaping the benefits.

He finished with 16 points and three rebounds, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. He also was great defensively, helping limit Boston star Jaysom Tatum to just 15 points on 4-of-12 from the floor.

With five days in between games, the Jazz looked like a team who hadn't played in a while as they struggled early to find a rhythm.

Meanwhile, after winning last night, Boston stayed in rhythm and jumped out to a quick 11-5 lead following five quick points from Derrick White. Utah answered with an 8-3 run to make it a one-point game midway through the first.

Jaylen Brown caught fire for the Celtics as they reeled off a 20-8 run, but the Jazz wouldn't go away quietly. Hardy drew up a pretty inbounds play, and Markkanen knocked down a buzzer-beating three to give Utah some momentum heading to the second.

Free throws by Markkanen made it an eight-point game early, but Boston proved why they're one of the top teams in the league. They responded with a 19-8 run as Tatum kept beating the double teams the Jazz would throw at him.

Make no mistake, the Jazz refused to quit, and just like they've done all season, they battled back.

A quick 10-3 run in which Simone Fontecchio drilled two threes cut the deficit to 12 with just under five to play. After nearly 90 seconds of scoreless play, Utah kept the momentum with a 13-2 run in which Horton-Tucker played a major role.

Tatum answered with a three and then knocked down three free throws with less than a second to play in the half. Agbaji then sunk a deep two on the other end, but the shot was called off.

It was a much better start to the second half for the Jazz as they came out playing hard on both ends.

An Agbaji layup kickstarted a 14-5 run to start the third as the Jazz took a two-point lead midway through the quarter. Agbaji also added back-to-back threes, the second of which showed just how much his game has evolved over the past six months.

Boston would retake the lead with back-to-back buckets, but Utah answered again. Beginning with a Markkanen dunk and ending with a Rudy Gay three, the Jazz reeled off an 11-2 run to lead by seven with just under four left in the quarter.

The game of runs continued as Boston answered with a 16-3 run to retake the lead, but Kris Dunn knocked down a three with nine seconds left.

Utah trailed 91-88 heading to the fourth.

The back-and-forth action continued early in the quarter, but Boston appeared to be pulling away — but Simone Fontecchio blocked a shot at the hoop, and Gay knocked down the three in transition to tie it up just two minutes in.

The Celtics finally got some breathing room with a 7-0 run, forcing Hardy to call a timeout with eight minutes left in the game. After Williams knocked down back-to-back threes for Boston, Markkanen answered with a deep three of his own to cut the deficit to four with just over five to play.

Utah's deficit would grow to six with 2:31 left, but that's when the drama was just beginning.

"That's a really good team who we have a lot of respect for," Hardy said. "It was a really good environment tonight in our building. … I thought our fans were fantastic. Rest is good sometimes, but rust can creep in sometimes. … I thought early on, we looked a little tentative and unsure of ourselves. Our guys settled in, a lot of guys made big plays tonight. … It's a good team win."

Olynyk finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists, while Horton-Tucker finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

Utah returns to action on Monday night when they host Sacramento — tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.

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"Sticking With It" | Utah Rallies In The Final Minutes To Stun Boston On Saturday Night

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Highlights: Lauri Markkanen – 28 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists

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Highlights: Celtics 117 | Jazz 118

After a six-game, 13-day road trip, the Jazz know that feeling better than anyone as they're back in the comfortable confines of Vivint Arena for the next four games. But before those games begin with Saturday's showdown against Boston, Utah had a four-day break — an extreme rarity this late in the season.&nbsp;

"We have to try and balance some of this downtime because the season is long and fatigue is real," head coach Will Hardy said. "It's very rare to have this. … You got this four-day break, so it's a good opportunity to rest and practice."

While being on the road in the NBA can produce an "us against the world mentality," Hardy was adamant that being home has many other benefits besides playing in front of the home fans.&nbsp;

"This is a great time to regroup," Hardy said. "We would be naive to not take these four days between games and use some to that recover and rest. It's good for everybody to unpack their suitcases, get back into their own space, see their families, and get some rest. It's a great opportunity for us to get on the court and work on the things that we've been talking about."

Just 1.5 games out of the No. 7 seed in the playoffs, the Jazz understand what lies ahead of them — and how daunting the task is. According to many websites, Utah has the most challenging schedule remaining of any team in the league. So if the Jazz can somehow play their way into the postseason, it will be because they've earned that moment.

"We've got as good a shot as anyone," Kelly Olynyk said. "Everyone is pretty bunched up there. We've got to string together a few wins, keep taking a step forward and playing good basketball, and letting the chips fall where they may."

Despite how the next few weeks play out, Hardy understands the benefits the remaining 13 games will have beyond just this season. For a young team without much postseason experience, playing in games that matter in March and April is often a prelude to bigger and better things — maybe not this season, but for seasons to come.&nbsp;

"I do think it's great that our team at this point in the season is playing meaningful basketball games," he said. "That helps motivate the group. … That helps keep everybody locked in. All these games are very important."

"Hope is a good motivator. … No one's really out of it right now at this point in the Western Conference."

Boston (49-22, 23-13 away / No. 2 Eastern Conference)Offense*117.6 Points Per Game (No. 4 in NBA)*116.6 Offensive Rating (No. 4 in NBA)Defense*112.2 Points Per Game (No. 7 in NBA)*111.1 Defensive Rating (No. 4 in NBA)Individual*Jayson Tatum: 30.2 points | 9.0 rebounds | 4.7 assists | 34.5% 3P-shooting*Jaylen Brown: 26.8 points | 6.9 rebounds | 3.3 assists | 33.8% 3P-shooting*Malcolm Brogdon: 14.7 points | 4.2 rebounds | 3.6 assists | 45.6% 3P-shooting

KEY MATCHUP*Lauri Markkanen vs. Jayson Tatum— The two players that both drive winning for their respective teams, Markkanen and Tatum will be relied upon early and often on Saturday night. Markkanen can help the Jazz climb back into the Play-In tournament with a win, while Tatum can lead Boston to a playoff berth with a victory.

INJURY REPORTUtahQUESTIONABLE | Jordan Clarkson (left hand - fourth finger sprain)OUT | Micah Potter (G League - Two-Way)OUT | Collin Sexton (left hamstring strain)BostonTBD

BROADCAST INFORMATIONTime:&nbsp;7:00 p.m. MTLocation: Vivint Arena |Salt Lake City, UTTV:&nbsp;AT&T SportsNetRadio:&nbsp;The Zone Sports Network

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"Hope Is A Good Motivator" | Beginning With Boston, Utah Returns Home For Key Stretch Of Games

For Kelly Olynyk, it's deja vu all over again.

After being drafted in 2013 and traded a few weeks later to the Boston Celtics, Olynyk was excited to be a part of a team with major championship aspirations.&nbsp;

Headlined by then-GM Danny Ainge, Boston underwent a massive overhaul that summer, trading future hall-of-famers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce for an unprecedented number of draft picks. They also hired Brad Stevens, a first-time head coach, to lead one of the most storied franchises in league history.&nbsp;

What entailed was a rebuild of epic proportions that eventually paid off as the Celtics are now one of the premier teams in the Eastern Conference and perennial title contenders.&nbsp;

It should because that's the blueprint for Utah's future — and Olynyk is going through it again.&nbsp;

"It's crazy because when I got drafted by Boston, we were almost in the exact same situation with Danny that they're in here right now," Olynyk said. "You have some older guys with experience, you have some young guys, you got a bunch of draft picks coming in for the next few years, and you're just trying to get better every single day, whatever that is.&nbsp;

In Boston, we had a young first-year coach in Brad [Stevens], and now we have a first-time, young head coach in Will [Hardy]."

When Olynyk was initially traded to Utah last week in exchange for Bojan Bogdanovic, many skeptics were asking why a player entering his 10th season in the NBA would be coveted by a team entering a rebuild of sorts. 

But upon further inspection of his resume, it's clear that Olynyk coming to the Jazz is a perfect fit for both sides.&nbsp;

"I'm excited. … I'm excited to be here, and I'm excited to be a part of this out here," Olynyk said. "I love the people they have in the front office. I think they have a great direction and plan in place in where they want to get to and want to go, and how to get there. … I believe in them."

One on end, Olynyk is widely regarded as one of the best mentors in the NBA, a veteran who's been through it all and shows younger players how to be successful. He's been through this exact situation before, knows what to expect, and how to positively navigate the trying road ahead.&nbsp;

On the other end, he's a 6-foot-11 center capable of stretching the floor and passing the ball. He's a tough-nosed defender who fully believes and buys into team concepts, a trait heavily desired in the league. 

"Kelly is a really versatile player," Hardy said. "He's obviously been around the NBA for a while, so he has a lot of just sort of corporate knowledge of how to play in the NBA. He's a really smart, skilled basketball player. … He can play in a couple of different positions on the floor, and just provides us with a lot of intelligence."

For those that may be questioning the Jazz and what the future may hold, Olynyk has a simple message for them. It may take time, but the people leading the way are the ones you want out in front.

"In any business, overnight successes don't actually happen overnight, right? It takes work, it takes time, little building blocks," he said. "He (Ainge) knows what he's doing. … He has been around the game for decades."

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"I Believe In Them" | Veteran Olynyk A Perfect Match For New-Look Jazz

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