BOSTON (AP) — Donovan Mitchell had 28 points and six assists, bouncing back from one of his worst performances of the season and leading the Utah Jazz to a 98-86 win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday night.
Ricky Rubio scored 20 points for Utah, which beat Boston for the second time in eight days and swept the season series. Rudy Gobert had 12 points and nine rebounds, and Derrick Favors finished with 10 points and eight boards.
Mitchell took 35 shots and did not record an assist in Friday night’s 113-107 loss at Philadelphia. He was far more efficient against Boston, going 10 for 21 from the field and 3 for 4 at the free-throw line.
Boston scored its fewest points since a 93-90 loss at Orlando on Oct. 22.
Kyrie Irving had 20 points for the Celtics, who had won two in a row. Jayson Tatum finished with 10, but no other player scored in double figures for Boston.
The Celtics were just 8 for 26 from the field in the third quarter. They had to play much of the period without Irving, who fouled Mitchell on a 3-pointer with 5:40 left. Mitchell made all three from the line to put Utah up 68-55, and then Irving picked up his fifth foul just 28 seconds later.
Irving returned in the fourth, but Boston was unable to catch up. Mitchell blocked a dunk attempt by Gordon Hayward and Utah took it the other way for an alley-oop dunk by Favors from Geoges Niang to put the Jazz up 83-64 with 9:07 left to play.
Utah ended a two-game losing streak, which started with a 118-68 loss at Dallas on Wednesday.
DOUBLE T
In the second quarter, Irving caught Rubio on a crossover dribble, giving himself a wide-open look at a 3-pointer that got the Celtics within 49-45 with 33 seconds left in the half. There was a brief confrontation at midcourt that led to technical fouls on Boston’s Marcus Smart and Utah’s Joe Ingles.
TIP-INS
Jazz: Led 50-45 at halftime despite going 4 for 11 from the foul line in the first half. … Dante Exum had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Celtics: Irving picked up his third foul with 2:59 left in the second quarter.
UP NEXT
Jazz: Close out a five-game trip at the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
Celtics: Visit the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.
Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell (45) keeps the ball inbound in front of Boston Celtics’ Al Horford (42) during the first half on an NBA basketball game in Boston, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
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