Like many people, Boston Celtics coach Jim O'Brien doesn't understand the Utah Jazz's 14-15 record.

"They're certainly not a sub-.500 team," he said. "I think they're a heckuva ballclub. If anybody thinks they're not going to be in the playoffs, I think they're nuts."
     
O'Brien's praise is understandable, considering it came just minutes after the Jazz out-hustled and out-scored his youthful club Wednesday night at the Delta Center, 99-86.
   
That victory came close on the heels of a Celtics win in a matchup of these same teams last Friday. In that contest, the Jazz played decently but got out-executed down the stretch just enough to lose by six.
     
This time the Jazz pulled ahead with a 17-2 run over a four-minute stretch at the end of the third and start of the fourth quarters, then played well enough to hold off the explosive Celtics.