George and Utah take on the Celtics in non-conference play

The Boston Celtics (19-12) will be facing off against the Utah Jazz (12-19) in an exciting non-conference matchup in Salt Lake City on Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST.

The Jazz have struggled at home this season, with an 8-10 record at home. They have also had difficulty in close games, going 3-4 in games decided by less than 4 points. On the other hand, the Celtics have been strong on the road, boasting a 9-7 record away from home. Boston’s defense has been impressive, ranking second in the NBA in points allowed at 110.5 per game and holding opponents to 44.8% shooting.

One key matchup to watch will be the battle of the three-point shooting. The Jazz average 14.1 made 3-pointers per game, the same per game average that the Celtics allow. Boston is shooting 47.2% from the field, slightly lower than the 49.1% their opponents have shot this season.

This will be the second meeting between these two teams this season, with the Jazz narrowly defeating the Celtics 105-103 in their last matchup on Nov. 4. Keyonte George led the Jazz with 31 points in that game, while Jaylen Brown paced the Celtics with 36 points.

In terms of player performances, George has been a standout for the Jazz, shooting 45.0% and averaging 24.2 points per game. Lauri Markkanen has been hot from beyond the arc, averaging 5.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. For the Celtics, Brown has been a force, averaging 29.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Anfernee Simons has also been a key contributor, averaging 13 points and two steals over the past 10 games.

In their last 10 games, the Jazz have gone 4-6, averaging 124.3 points per game, while the Celtics have gone 7-3, averaging 119.1 points per game. The Jazz have struggled defensively, allowing 132.2 points per game, while the Celtics have been solid on both ends of the floor.

In terms of injuries, the Jazz will be without Ace Bailey (hip), Georges Niang (foot), and Walker Kessler (season-ending shoulder injury). The Celtics will be missing Jayson Tatum (achilles) and Chris Boucher (day to day personal reasons).

This promises to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams with contrasting strengths and weaknesses. Fans can expect a competitive game with high-scoring action on both ends of the court.

The Associated Press contributed to this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.