The Boston Celtics will be looking to avoid back-to-back losses Friday when they face the visiting Utah Jazz.
Boston had its six-game winning streak end Tuesday with a 127-123 loss at Oklahoma City. Kristaps Porzingis made 12 of his 18 field goal attempts and led the Celtics with 34 points in the loss.
Porzingis is averaging 20.6 points per game and is Boston’s third-leading scorer, behind Jayson Tatum (23.5) and Jaylen Brown (22.7). Brown missed 14 of 18 field goal attempts against Oklahoma City, including each of his eight shots from behind the 3-point arc.
Oklahoma City outscored Boston 40-25 in the third quarter.
Jrue Holiday returned to the lineup against Oklahoma City after sitting out Sunday’s 134-101 victory over San Antonio with a sprained elbow. Despite Holiday’s availability, Mazzulla played reserve guard Payton Pritchard the entire fourth quarter.
When asked about that decision after the game, Mazzulla said he liked what he saw from Pritchard at each end of the court.
Boston hasn’t lost back-to-back games since November, when it dropped a 114-109 overtime decision to Minnesota and then lost to Philadelphia 106-103 two nights later. The Celtics have scored at least 120 points in each of their past eight games.
Utah is coming off Wednesday’s 154-148 overtime victory against Detroit. Jordan Clarkson scored 36 points in the win, and Lauri Markkanen added 31.
Utah’s 154 points tied a franchise record. The Jazz shot 51.5 percent from the field (53 of 103) and 50 percent from 3-point range (16 of 32).
Utah has won six of its past seven games and nine of its past 12.
Markkanen, who leads the Jazz in scoring (23.5) and rebounding (8.4), said Utah will have to step up its defensive effort during its three-game road trip, which includes matchups with Philadelphia (Saturday) and at Milwaukee (Monday).
The Celtics enter Friday’s game with a 16-0 record at home. Utah is 5-14 on the road.
