BOSTON - The Celtics are struggling to put the ball in the basket, but it's not due to lack of effort.
In what's been a much more entertaining game than the halftime score of 46-43 would dictate, the C's are keeping pace with a Jazz team that once again is proving to have an advantage in the paint and on the glass.
The Jazz scored 30 points in the paint and 15 second chance points in the first half, compared to the Celtics' 20 points in the paint and just three second chance points.
The Celtics are actually shooting better than the Jazz - 43.2 percent to 38.2 percent - but Utah's taken 11 more shots, 44 to 55.
Brad Stevens' insertion of rookie Jordan Mickey into the lineup midway through the second quarter has paid dividends. Mickey had three points and three rebounds in his seven minutes of playing time in the second quarter, and the C's outscored the Jazz by seven points in that span.
Isaiah Thomas shrugged off a slow start from the field with three impressive layups to end the first quarter. He also drove down the court in the final five seconds of the second quarter for a layup just before the buzzer. He has 10 points.
Evan Turner has eight points on 4-for-4 shooting from the field. Jae Crowder has nine points.
Jazz rookie Trey Lyles has been impressive off the bench for Utah, as he's got 14 points on 6-for-13 shooting to go with seven rebounds.