NBA: Donovan Mitchell scores 34, leads Utah Jazz past Boston Celtics 137-130

Donovan Mitchell had 34 points and six assists to lead the Utah Jazz over the Boston Celtics 137-130 Friday night.

Mike Conley added 29 points and seven assists for the Jazz. Rudy Gobert tallied 18 points and 12 rebounds. Utah made a season-high 27 3-pointers and shot 53% from long distance.

Jayson Tatum scored 37 points to lead Boston. Dennis Schroder added 26 points while Al Horford chipped in 21 points and nine assists.

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Robert Williams III scored on three straight possessions to cap a 9-0 run and give Boston a 113-109 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Utah answered by scoring baskets on seven straight possessions to surge ahead 127-120 with 1:57 left. Mitchell made three shots in a row, including a go-ahead 3-pointer.

Tatum made a layup and two free throws to get Boston within three in the final minute. Mitchell hit a stepback 3-pointer with 28.2 seconds left to stave off a comeback.

Conley made three 3-pointers to fuel a game-opening 14-2 run for the Jazz. It set the stage for a first quarter when Utah made nine 3-pointers and shot 12 of 18 from the field overall.

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Boston trimmed the deficit to 30-23 on a steal and dunk from Josh Richardson. Jordan Clarkson answered with back-to-back baskets to boost Utah’s lead back to double digits.

The Jazz led 43-29 in the second quarter on a dunk from Gobert. Then, the Celtics rallied. Boston ripped off an 11-0 run punctuated by back-to-back baskets from Tatum and Schroder to cut Utah’s lead to 43-40.

Horford scored five baskets in the second quarter to keep the Jazz from pulling away again before halftime. His final one, a driving hook shot, pulled the Celtics within 57-56.

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After trailing the entire first half, Boston took its first lead at 73-71 in the third quarter on a reverse layup from Marcus Smart.

Tip-Ins

Celtics: Jaylen Brown did not play (right hamstring tightness). … Smart had four steals, giving him 750 for his career.

Jazz: Royce O’Neale returned to action after missing two games with a right foot sprain. O’Neale finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. … Utah scored a season-high 38 points in the first quarter and a season-high 41 in the third quarter.

Up next

Celtics visit Portland on Saturday.

Jazz visit Cleveland on Sunday.