The Utah Jazz have been losing an awful lot as of late, and a road matchup against the defending NBA Finals champions doesn't inspire much faith that Will Hardy and his roster of youngsters are due for a change of fate.
Against the Boston Celtics, very few teams can shake the narrative. The 2024 champions are a shining beacon of the modern age of NBA basketball. Three-point-chuckers galore, the Celtics are simply capable of outscoring the opposition with an onslaught of long-range connections.
Payton Pritchard is running a convincing Sixth Man of the Year campaign, and leading the way for the three-point industrialism taking place in Boston. To find a player shooting under 39 percent from three-point land, one would have to scroll past six players on the roster. This team can light it up from beyond the arc unlike nearly anyone, and Utah's chances of keeping up are slim to none, unfortunately.
Tatum often falls under criticism by the average NBA fan due to his awkward position in the pedigree of superstars. Losing the NBA Finals MVP trophy to his running mate, Brown, in last year's finale, Tatum has returned in this season to leave no doubt about his position on the squad and in the greater NBA.
Leading the C's in points, assists, and rebounds to this point in the season is a testament to Tatum's star power. An undeniable force in the greater NBA, Tatum can fill it up from anywhere on the floor.
Expect him to enforce his will upon the lowly Jazz during their visit to the Boston Garden, assuming he is cleared for play by game time.
Especially as the Jazz have rested their veterans in recent weeks, a return to full strength likely won't have any significant impact on the result of this ball game. Boston is good and in a battle for first place with the dynamite Cleveland Cavaliers. Though the Cavs have been exceptional all season, home-court advantage is a luxury that Boston will fight for.
Sure-thing wins like this clash against Utah won't go overlooked by Joe Mazzula and his depth chart. There's simply too much at stake, as funny as that may sound.
Utah Jazz vs Boston Celtics Injury Report
Utah Jazz Injuries: Lauri Markkanen - Game-time decision
Jaden Springer - Game-time decision
John Collins - Game-time decision
Jordan Clarkson - Out
Keyonte George - Out
Boston Celtics Injuries: Jayson Tatum - Game-time decision
Al Horford - Game-time decision
Kristaps Porzingis - Game-time decision
Drew Peterson - Out
This game will tip off at 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time and will be televised on KJZZ and SEG+.
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This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 1:51 PM.