The Jazz can only hope the momentum from Friday's victory over the Celtics will carry them through the finale of their four-game road trip Saturday at New Jersey. The Jazz ended the Celtics' 10-game winning streak and became just the fifth team to win in Boston this season.
It will be the fourth game in five nights for the Jazz on this trip. They have won twice before this season in the same situation, beating Seattle at home in December and Memphis on the road March 1. The Nets have been off since beating Cleveland on Wednesday. The Jazz beat the Nets 102-75 on Nov. 19 in Utah, although Vince Carter did not play with a sprained ankle. Devin Harris, acquired by New Jersey in the Jason Kidd trade, has the challenge of stopping Deron Williams, who is averaging 21 points and 14 assists in March.
JAZZ 110, CELTICS 92: There was no doubt which game the Jazz had circled on this trip. They jumped on the Celtics in building a 12-point lead in the first quarter and held them off down the stretch to earn one of their biggest victories of the season.
Deron Williams finished with 32 points and eight assists and went 17 of 18 from the foul line. Williams took over the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points as the Jazz let the Celtics no closer than three points. They finished the game on a 17-3 run.
The victory was all the more impressive considering the Jazz had lost 108-96 to Chicago to open the trip and needed to come back from 11 points down in the fourth quarter to beat Milwaukee. But the Jazz have played to the level of their competition all season.
"Those are the games you circle on your calendar, when you're playing against the best teams," Carlos Boozer said, "because you know in the playoffs you're going to be playing against the best teams. I think everybody came prepared tonight."
Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with 15 points after making just 1-of-7 shots in the first half. Ray Allen suffered a jammed left ankle in the first half and did not return.
