Utah Jazz Pull Off Stunning Last-Second Victory Over Boston Celtics 105-103

The TD Garden fell silent.

With just 0.6 seconds left on the clock, Jusuf Nurkic tipped in a putback that sent the Utah Jazz bench erupting in celebration and left 19,156 Celtics fans stunned. Final score: 105-103. It was the kind of gut-wrenching finish that makes you love—or hate—basketball, depending on which side you’re on.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. The Jazz came into Monday night’s matchup at 2-4, looking for their first road win of the season. They’d been struggling, inconsistent, and facing a Celtics team that, despite their own rocky start, still had the weapons to dominate on any given night. By halftime, things looked bleak for Utah. They trailed 46-36, shooting a miserable 31.3% from the field and 20% from three-point range. Lauri Markkanen, who’s been carrying the offensive load all season with an eye-popping 33.8 points per game average, was ice cold—just 6 points on 3-for-12 shooting.

But this Jazz squad refused to fold.

Utah Jazz Mount Second-Half Comeback

Whatever the head coach said in that locker room at halftime, it worked. The Utah Jazz came out of the break with fire in their eyes and a renewed sense of purpose. They outscored Boston 25-14 over the first seven minutes of the third quarter, clawing their way back into a game that seemed all but lost. At the 5:01 mark of the third, the Utah Jazz took their first lead of the night, 61-60, and suddenly, the momentum had shifted.

Keyonte George was magnificent. The young guard, who’s been the Jazz’s No. 2 scoring option this season at 21.2 points per game, erupted for a season-high 31 points. He was fearless, attacking the rim, drawing fouls, and hitting clutch shots when his team needed them most. Markkanen shook off his cold first half to finish with 20 points and nine rebounds, showing the resilience that’s made him one of the league’s most underrated stars.

Celtics Collapse Down the Stretch

For Boston, this loss stings. Jaylen Brown was sensational, pouring in 36 points and willing his team forward. But here’s the kicker: he went 0-for-9 from three-point range. And he wasn’t alone. The Celtics shot a season-low 21.6% from beyond the arc, going just 11-for-51. In today’s NBA, that’s a death sentence, and it nearly cost them the game—before it actually did.

Payton Pritchard chipped in 18 points, and Derrick White added 10, but when it mattered most, Boston couldn’t execute. With the game tied at 101 and a minute to play, the Utah Jazz were called for a defensive three-second violation. White made the technical free throw to give Boston a one-point edge, but on the very next possession, Brown stumbled and turned the ball over to Markkanen, who drove hard to the basket for a layup that put Utah back ahead.

Neemias Queta was fouled and hit one of two free throws to tie it at 103, setting up the final possession that would decide everything.

Nurkic Delivers the Dagger

The Jazz drew up a play. The ball found its way into the paint. A shot went up. It missed. But Jusuf Nurkic, all 7 feet and 290 pounds of him, was in the perfect position. He grabbed the rebound and tipped it back in with 0.6 seconds remaining. Chaos. Pure, unfiltered basketball chaos.

The Celtics challenged a foul call on Brown during the inbounds play, hoping for a miracle reversal that might give them one last chance. It was unsuccessful. Time expired. The Utah Jazz had done the impossible—they’d erased a 10-point halftime deficit, survived Boston’s best punch, and stolen a game on the road in one of the league’s toughest arenas.

What This Means for the Utah Jazz

This win is huge for the Jazz. Not just because it’s their first road victory of the season, but because of how they got it. They showed grit, resilience, and the ability to execute under pressure—all qualities that will serve them well as the season grinds on. George’s breakout performance and Markkanen’s ability to bounce back from a rough first half are encouraging signs. And Nurkic? He’ll be replaying that putback in his head for weeks.

For Boston, it’s a wake-up call. You can’t shoot 21.6% from three and expect to win games, even at home. They’ll need to regroup quickly because in the NBA, there’s no time to sulk. The next game is always around the corner.

But on this night, in this building, the Utah Jazz proved they’re not a team to be overlooked. And that last-second tip-in? That’s the kind of moment that can galvanize a season.