Utah Jazz come up short, lose 98-93 in Boston

Boston • Mo Williams' 3-pointer to tie the game with fewer than 10 seconds left fell short and the Jazz lost 98-93 to the Celtics on Wednesday.

It was the culmination of a final minute in which the Jazz failed to execute.

First, With the Jazz trailing 94-93, Williams drove into the paint, but his layup was short and he was forced to foul Paul Pierce. Pierce made both free throws. On the following possession, Paul Millsap's layup, too, came up short but Jeff Green traveled on the rebound, giving the Jazz a final chance.

The Jazz led 46-44 at halftime, but trailed by as many as eight in the third quarter, when the Celtics went on a 12-2 run.

The Jazz fell to 4-5 and 1-5 on the road.

Millsap and Al Jefferson both recorded double-doubles for the Jazz. Millsap, two nights removed from a 34-point outing in Toronto, led the Jazz with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Jefferson added 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Paul Pierce led all scorers with 23 points. Rajon Rondo recorded his 32nd consecutive 10-plus assist game, despite not playing in the fourth quarter after rolling his right ankle.

boram@sltrib.com

Twitter: @oramb