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Utah Jazz (15-10) at Boston Celtics (22-2)
Monday, December 15
7:30 PM
Game #25, Home Game #15
TV: CSN HD, FSN, NBA LP 754
TD Banknorth Garden Coach: Doc Rivers
Average Age: 26.7
Average Height: 6-6
Average Weight: 222Probable Starters PG: Rajon Rondo 10.3 PPG 7.6 APG 2.3 SPG
SG: Ray Allen 19.2 PPG 2.7 APG .393 3P%
SF: Paul Pierce 18.2 PPG 6 RPG 3.5 APG
PF: Kevin Garnett 16.4 PPG 9.4 RPG 1.4 BPG
C: Kendrick Perkins 8 PPG 8.1 RPG 1.8 BPG
Reserves Reserves
Tony Allen
Glen Davis
Eddie House
Leon Powe
Gabe Pruitt
Brian Scalabrine
Patrick O'Bryant
Sam Cassell
Injuries:None
Probable InactiveSam Cassell
D-LeagueJR Giddens
Bill Walker
Coach: Jerry Sloan
Average Age: 25.6
Average Height: 6-7
Average Weight: 233 PG Deron Williams 12.3 PPG 10.3 APG 0.8SPG
SG: Morris Almond 5.1 PPG 0.4 APG .231 3P%
SF CJ Miles 10.5 PPG 2.6 RPG 2 APG
PF Paul Millsap 13.7 PPG 8.6 RPG 1.1 BPG
C Mehmet Okur 15.7 PPG 7.8 RPG 0.6 BPG
Reserves Andrei Kirilenko
Kyle Korver
Matt Harpring
Brevin Knight
Kosta Koufos
Ronnie Price
Carlos Boozer
Jarron Collins
Kyrylo Fesenko
Ronnie Brewer
Injuries Carlos Boozer (quad) out
Jarron Collins (elbow) out
InactiveRonnie Brewer (death in family) out
Key Matchups vs
PG: Rajon Rondo 10.3 PPG 7.6 APG 2.3 SPG
PG Deron Williams 12.3 PPG 10.3 APG 0.8SPG
Rondo has yet another tough matchup with one of the top young PG's in the league. Last season, Williams averaged 27 points and 9.5 assists in the two games against the Celtics. Williams is strong and quick and Rondo will need to be aggressive on both ends to get the best of this matchup.
vs
Kendrick Perkins 8 PPG 8.1 RPG 1.8 BPG
Mehmet Okur 15.7 PPG 7.8 RPG 0.6 BPG
Okur is one of those centers who could give Perk a hard time since he can stop outside the arc and hit the shot rather than taking it inside. Okur is shooting just under 38% from 3 point range and it will take team defense to keep Okur in check.
Honorable Mention The benches
The Jazz have a good bench with Kirilenko and Korver especially able to put up points in a hurry. The Celtics have a good defensive bench with Powe, Big Baby and Tony Allen and a shooter to match Kover in House and the Celtics bench will need to play well in this one to pull out the win.
Connections Matt Harpring played for Doc in Orlando
Danny Ainge was a former BYU star
The Celtics and Jazz share the Flash as their D-League team
Game Notes:The Jazz are coming off a loss to the Magic on Saturday. They are 5-7 on the road and 6-4 in their last 10 games. Neither team played the night before.
These two teams split the series last season with the Celtics winning in Utah and the Jazz winning in Boston. The Jazz snapped a 10 game win streak for the Celtics and they were the first Western team to beat the Celtics at home.