The Boston Celtics bounced back in emphatic fashion Tuesday night, defeating the Utah Jazz 129-119 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The game, played on December 30, 2025, was a showcase of offensive firepower, resilience, and a bit of NBA history as Derrick White delivered a career night on both ends of the floor.
Coming into the matchup, the Celtics were looking to shake off a narrow 114-108 loss in Portland. Despite being without their star forward Jayson Tatum, who remains sidelined with an Achilles injury suffered in last season’s playoffs, Boston held the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 19-12 record. Utah, meanwhile, sat at 12-19, 11th in the Western Conference, but had momentum after stringing together wins over the Pistons and Spurs.
Tipoff at the Delta Center was set for 9 p.m. ET, and the Celtics entered as 7 to 8.5-point favorites, depending on the sportsbook, with a total points line hovering between 240 and 242.5. Oddsmakers and analysts alike expected fireworks, citing Utah’s high-octane home offense (eighth in the NBA) and the Jazz’s penchant for fast-paced basketball, especially at altitude. The Jazz, playing with the second-fastest home pace in the league, had seen 13 of their 18 home games go over the total points line—a trend that only fueled expectations for a shootout.
Boston’s offense has been nothing short of elite this season, even in Tatum’s absence. As play-by-play broadcaster Sean Grande shared, the Celtics boasted the third-most efficient offense in NBA history entering Sunday’s game. Jaylen Brown, averaging 29.7 points per game, had been on a tear, posting nine consecutive games with at least 30 points.
Utah, for its part, was missing several key contributors. Ace Bailey (hip), Georges Niang (foot), Walker Kessler (shoulder), Kevin Love (rest), and John Tonje were all unavailable. Keyonte George, the rookie guard, was questionable with illness but suited up and ended up making a major impact.
The Jazz started strong, capitalizing on their home-court advantage and altitude, jumping out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter. Boston looked sluggish early, trailing by five at halftime. But whatever was said in the locker room at the break worked wonders—the Celtics erupted for 40 points in the third quarter, flipping the script and seizing control of the game.
Derrick White was the engine behind Boston’s second-half surge. The guard finished with a team-high 27 points, but it was his defense that truly set him apart. White swatted a career-high seven shots, tying the most by a Celtics guard in decades, and added seven rebounds and six assists. "I just wanted to be aggressive and help my team wherever I could," White told NBC Sports Boston after the game. "The blocks just came from being in the right place and trusting my instincts."
White’s performance was all the more crucial given that Jaylen Brown’s remarkable 30-point streak came to an end. Brown finished with 23 points, still a solid showing, but saw his run of nine straight games with 30 or more snapped. Six Celtics players scored in double figures, highlighting the team’s balanced attack and depth.
On the Utah side, Keyonte George was a revelation. Despite being listed as questionable, the rookie exploded for a game-high 37 points, keeping the Jazz competitive deep into the fourth quarter. Lauri Markkanen, who entered the night averaging 27.9 points per game (10th in the league), also contributed, but the Jazz couldn’t overcome their defensive woes.
Utah’s struggles on that end of the floor have been well documented. The Jazz rank 29th in defensive efficiency, and opponents have feasted on their porous defense all season, especially at home. The Celtics took full advantage, shooting efficiently and moving the ball with purpose. Boston’s third-quarter explosion was a microcosm of their offensive identity: quick ball movement, smart shot selection, and relentless pressure on the rim.
For bettors and analysts, the game provided plenty of intrigue. The consensus pick among experts was to take the over on the first-half total, given both teams’ offensive tendencies and Utah’s fast pace at home. Doug Kezirian of the New York Post, who entered the night with an 85-73-2 ATS record, had confidently picked Over 123.5 points for the first half. In the end, the game’s total soared past the over/under, validating those who predicted a track meet.
The Celtics’ victory was a testament to their adaptability and depth. Without Tatum, and with several other rotation players sidelined, Boston relied on its supporting cast. White’s breakout, Brown’s steady scoring, and contributions from the bench all played a role in the win. After the game, head coach Joe Mazzulla praised his team’s resilience: "We didn’t let the early deficit shake us. The guys responded, locked in defensively, and let the offense flow. Derrick was phenomenal—he set the tone for us on both ends."
The win improved Boston’s record to 20-12 as they continued their road trip, with a matchup against the Sacramento Kings looming on December 31. The Jazz, now 12-20, will look to regroup and address their defensive shortcomings as they try to climb out of the lower tier of the Western Conference standings.
Fans who tuned in had plenty of options: the game was broadcast on NBCS-BOS, KJZZ, and Jazz+, with streaming available on Fubo and NBA League Pass. Radio listeners caught the action on 98.5 FM The Sports Hub in Boston and WPRV 790 AM in Providence.
For Boston, the victory was more than just another notch in the win column. It was a statement that, even shorthanded, the Celtics remain one of the league’s most dangerous teams. With Derrick White stepping up and Jaylen Brown still producing at a high level, Boston’s championship aspirations remain very much alive.
As the Celtics pack their bags for Sacramento, their performance in Salt Lake City serves as a reminder: this team is built to weather adversity and deliver when it matters most. The Jazz, meanwhile, will need to tighten up defensively if they hope to turn close games like this into home wins down the stretch.
