Utah Jazz: Jazz put hammer to Celtics

BOSTON — In the farthest northeastern point the NBA has to offer, the Jazz may have finally found a cure to their well-chronicled road woes.

Just keep driving.

Put pedal to the metal, use two hands to steer and hold on for the joy ride.

That's what coach Jerry Sloan's Northwest Division-leading club did Friday, riding point guard Deron Williams' 32-point performance to a 110-92 victory over league-leading Boston.

Utah ended the 51-13 Celtics' overall win streak — longest in franchise history story since 1986 — at 10, and snapped Boston's string of consecutive home victories at 11.

The 44-23 Jazz also won for the seventh time in their last eight games, and for the second time on a four-game trip that ends tonight at New Jersey — but also for just the 16th time in 36 games away from EnergySolutions Arena, where they own an 18-game win streak.

They did it largely because of Williams, who shot 7-of-10 from the field but also hit 17-of-18 free throws that stemmed mostly from aggressive basket attacks.

"He just kept driving and driving and driving and kept getting fouled and fouled and fouled," said power forward Carlos Boozer, who posted a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double. "That's what it seemed like to me."

Boozer's vision was clear as can be.

Williams simply took command, scoring 13 in the fourth quarter — all after the Celtics trimmed what had been a 13-point Utah halftime lead to just three in the final period's opening minute.

"He's learning how to control the tempo of the game, which is so important to be a good team," teammate Matt Harpring said. "The last time I played with a guy was (John) Stockton that could do that."

Williams got going, though, only after Boozer established an inside presence early with 10 opening-quarter points.

"They have very imposing lineup out there with Ray Allen (who exited after the first quarter with a bruised left heel) and Paul Pierce and KG (Kevin Garnett), and I tried to let my teammates know by my play, 'Just attack,"' Boozer said. "You know, we got a lot of points in the paint — and I think I set the tone with that, just to keep driving and driving and driving and driving.

"And in the second half," Boozer added, "you saw D-Will keep driving and driving and getting fouled. Sometimes you have to make a statement by doing something, so your teammates know not to be afraid."

The transition to Williams at the wheel came at the urging of Boozer, who was scoreless on 0-of-5 from the field in the third quarter.