Now proving pesky for contenders, Utah Jazz prepare to host Boston Celtics in NBA clash

UTAH – The Utah Jazz are quickly becoming a problem that National Basketball Association (NBA) play-off contenders cannot solve.

The Jazz have notched two straight victories against some of the league’s top teams heading into their game against the Boston Celtics in Salt Lake City on Dec 30 (Dec 31, Singapore time).

They earned wins over the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs in back-to-back days over the weekend to snap a four-game losing streak.

Against the Spurs, Utah played one of their best games of the season, clinching a 127-114 victory behind 29 points from Lauri Markkanen and 28 points from Keyonte George.

Utah have lost numerous close games this season, but they are starting to finish stronger and nab unexpected wins.

“We’ve seen this a bunch of times this year where we’re in close games and our team is not afraid,” Utah coach Will Hardy told the Deseret News.

“They don’t look scattered, they’re very connected, and they’re stepping up and making a lot of big plays... so I’m so proud of our group, and I want our guys and our fans to enjoy.”

Utah are 6-6 in December. Four of those wins have come against likely NBA play-off teams.

Improvement and development of younger players have driven success.

George is a legitimate candidate to be named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in his third season in the league. Brice Sensabaugh and Isaiah Collier have turned into key contributors off the bench. Rookies Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr have both shown lots of potential in their debut season.

Clayton, who had one of his best games to date against the Spurs – finishing with 17 points, five assists and zero turnovers – believes the Jazz have turned a corner after compiling the league’s worst record last season.

“I think guys are just tired of losing,” he said in an interview with KJZZ TV.

Meanwhile, Boston have also made progress in December, recovering from a sluggish start and looking like true play-off contenders. The Celtics are 8-3 since the start of December and have claimed four road victories in that stretch.

A 114-108 loss at the Portland Trail Blazers on Dec 28, however, snapped a four-game winning streak.

Despite getting 37 points from Jaylen Brown, whose ninth consecutive game with 30 or more points tied the franchise record set by Larry Bird in 1985, Boston could not catch up after falling behind the Trail Blazers in the third quarter.

For Brown, the loss shows that the Celtics still have more ground to cover to reach their full potential this season.

“Obviously, tonight kind of pisses me off with how we executed down the stretch, but it’s an opportunity for growth,” Brown told NBC Sports Boston after the game.

The Celtics will be looking for redemption after falling at home 105-103 to the Jazz on Nov 3.

Boston shot 11 of 51 from three-point range against Utah in that previous meeting. That might be a key factor which they will be looking to improve on.

Meanwhile, in NBA action on Dec 29, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 140-129 home win over the Atlanta Hawks.

The Thunder outscored the Hawks 70-36 in the paint.

Gilgeous-Alexander was 15 of 24 from the field and had six assists, six rebounds and a pair of steals.

Elsewhere, Stephen Curry scored 27 points as the Golden State Warriors recovered from a slow start to triumph 120-107 at the Brooklyn Nets.

Jarrett Allen amassed 27 points and 10 rebounds as the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers went on a decisive fourth-quarter run to emerge with a 113-101 success over the Spurs. AFP, REUTERS