Doing a number

What they also noticed was that over the previous three games, they were running out of steam. But before they ever scored a bucket in last night’s 105-86 win over Utah, the Celtics went over every defensive detail possible. They had three days to not only rest their vet erans and refine aspects of their game, but to research the Jazz.

“We paid attention to the small things and the details,’’ said Kevin Garnett, “because this is how that team beats you.’’

The way the Jazz sneak by you on back cuts. The way they make you pay for gambling. The way their point guard, Deron Williams, pushes the ball down a defense’s throat. The Celtics prepared for it all.

“Everybody knew exactly what they were going to run,’’ said Ray Allen.

The Celtics lived in Utah’s passing lanes. They refused to let Paul Millsap or Ronnie Brewer make cuts in front of them. They forced 21 turnovers and turned them into 25 points.

They built a 54-44 halftime lead, hitting 21 of 39 shots, while forcing the Jazz to miss 23 of their 42. In the third, the Celtics did their best to rope off the paint, forcing the Jazz to take jumpers on 11 of their 16 shots in the quarter, and causing seven turnovers.

“That’s the process of the progression of the game for us,’’ said Allen, one of seven Celtics in double digits, with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting. “Whatever they’re running, kind of push them further away from the basket and make them play on their heels a little bit.’’

The Celtics then used the opportunities created by the defense to move the ball, find open threes, and create easy shots under the basket. As quiet as Pierce’s 13 points seemed, his two 3-pointers at the start of the third quarter began the avalanche that eventually smothered the Jazz.