The game has been circled since the schedule came out last summer, and even though Gordon Hayward won’t be making his return to Vivint Smart Home Arena on Wednesday night, it’s not sapping the ESPN-televised matchup of much interest.
Subplots abound for tonight’s game pitting the Jazz (42-32) and Boston Celtics (51-23) at Vivint Smart Home Arena: two potential candidates for defensive player of the year in Rudy Gobert and Al Horford sharing the floor; two potential coaches of the year in Brad Stevens and Quin Snyder; former Celtics Jae Crowder and Jonas Jerebko facing their old teammates; Louisville guards Donovan Mitchell and Terry Rozier going head-to-head; Mitchell and Jayson Tatum as two of the most promising rookies in the league.