Celtics split week, beat 76ers, fall to Jazz without Tatum

The Boston Celtics split a pair of games this week, rallying to a 109-108 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia on Friday before suffering a 105-103 loss to the Utah Jazz at TD Garden on Monday, results that underscored both the green light the team can show offensively and the thin margin for error while the group continues to cohere without All-Star Jayson Tatum.

In Philadelphia, Jaylen Brown paced Boston with 32 points and six assists as the Celtics built a 24-point first-half lead before the 76ers mounted a furious comeback. Boston withstood late miscues and missed free throws to escape with the one-point win in the opening NBA Cup group-stage game for both clubs. Anfernee Simons added 19 points off the bench, and reserves provided timely energy, but the game featured extended stretches in which the Celtics struggled to maintain composure and close out possessions. Brown acknowledged the team's resolve after the game, saying they "thugged it out" to secure the victory.

The win improved Boston’s standing in the in-season tournament and marked the franchise’s third straight victory, but it also exposed vulnerabilities. Philadelphia turned a sizable deficit into a tie...