Celtics 94, Jazz 82
CELTICS 94, JAZZ 82: Kevin Garnett collected 23 points and 10 rebounds and Brandon Bass hit some key jumpers in the fourth quarter as host Boston pulled into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Paul Pierce added 20 points and Rajon Rondo handed out 14 assists for the Celtics (28-22), who are tied for the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference, though Philadelphia (28-22) owns the head-to-head tiebreaker.
The Jazz are locked in a three-way tie with the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets for the final two playoff spots in the West.
Boston grabbed the lead in the second quarter on Wednesday, doubling up Utah, 28-14, in the frame. Garnett and Pierce combined for 11 points as the Celtics took a 46-35 lead into the break.
They stretched it to 61-43 early in the third before Utah got back into it, bridging the third and fourth quarters with a 23-5 burst to knot it at 66-66 with 11:07 remaining.
Keyon Dooling hit a 3-pointer and Garnett scored to keep Boston clear. Bass, who finished with 19 points, hit back-to-back jumpers with just under four minutes left to push it back to double figures.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Gordon Hayward scored 19 points and former Celtic Al Jefferson collected 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Jazz. … Boston travels to Minnesota on Friday before beginning a string of seven straight games against playoff teams. … Utah shot 39 percent in the contest.