Celtics-Jazz takeaways: Tatum, C’s end road trip on a high note

Celtics-Jazz takeaways: Tatum, C’s end road trip on a high note originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Three Key Storylines

The Boston Celtics finished their five-game road trip with an entertaining victory in Utah.

After starting the trip with two consecutive losses, the C’s rattled off three straight road wins over the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, and finally the Jazz on Tuesday. Despite being short-handed on the second night of their back-to-back, they erupted for 44 first-quarter points to tie a season-high and a whopping 72 points in the first half. It was their 15th 70-point first half of the season, a franchise record.

The Celtics watched their 17-point lead dwindle to two in the third quarter, but they dominated the fourth to run away with a 123-107 win. They improved to a league-best 9-2 on the second night of back-to-backs and did so without Jaylen Brown (sacroiliac strain), Al Horford (left big toe sprain), and Kristaps Porzingis (right hamstring strain).

Jayson Tatum and Derrick White carried the load offensively with 38 and 24 points, respectively. Jrue Holiday chipped in 16 points and a game-high eight assists in his return to the Celtics lineup.

Keyonte George paced the Jazz in scoring with 26 points while Collin Sexton added 20.

The Celtics (51-14) will return home to take on the Phoenix Suns (37-27) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Before we look ahead to that matchup, here are three takeaways from Tuesday’s game.

Derrick White snaps out of 3-point slump

White struggled to find his 3-point shot throughout the road trip. He entered Tuesday an uncharacteristic 1-for-14 from beyond the arc over his last four games.

The C’s guard ended that slump emphatically in Utah, drilling his first four 3-pointers of the night and finishing a scorching 7-of-11 from deep. His seven made 3s tie his season-high and come just one short of his career-high.

White scored 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting and, per usual, was a difference-maker on the defensive end. He tallied…