Sexton scores 30, but Jazz fall to Boston, 121-99

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) – Collin Sexton matched a season-high with 30 points, but the Utah Jazz were no match for the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics in a 121-99 loss Friday night at the Delta Center.

The Jazz (16-55) have now dropped 11 of its last 12 games.

Kristaps Porzingis scored 27 points and Jayson Tatum added 26 to lead the Boston Celtics to its fourth straight victory.

Porzingis added 10 rebounds and six assists, and Tatum chipped in six boards, six assists, and three steals as Boston won its four straight and ninth in its last 10 games.

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Sexton hit the 30-point mark for the third time this season on 12-of-15 shooting. Keyonte George added 19 points and seven assists.

Six of Boston’s first seven baskets were 3-pointers, opening the door for the Celtics to seize control early. The Celtics led 35-18 in the final minute of the first quarter. Tatum powered Boston’s first-quarter offense, scoring six baskets and assisting three others.

Sexton heated up after halftime, sparking a Utah rally. He made three 3-pointers early in the third quarter to trim the deficit to single digits. George added a fourth outside basket that cut Boston’s lead to 71-69.

Tatum answered George with a 3-pointer, sparking a 13-0 run that put Boston back in control.

Boston made 17 3-pointers. Four players chipped in three or more outside baskets for the Celtics, led by Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser with four apiece.

After George made it a one-possession game, Tatum countered with a stepback three 19 seconds later to spark a 13-0 run that put the Celtics up 84-69 with 3:27 left in the third.

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Boston outscored Utah 26-5 in points off turnovers.

Utah next hosts the top team in the Eastern Conference Sunday, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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