THE LOCKER ROOM at Utah's Vivint Smart Home Arena bristled with energy as the Boston Celtics reveled in Jaylen Brown's game winner in a matchup they had every excuse to lose.
The Celtics had played that night without any of their three All-Stars. Gordon Hayward, lured from the very Utah Jazz team Boston had just beaten, was lost for the season on opening night. Kyrie Irving and his balky knee had played his last game of the season a couple weeks earlier. Al Horford was sidelined that night by a sprained ankle.