The Celtics' maiden voyage out West this season got off to a rocky start. They started slowly and then simply could not stop the Jazz when it mattered and dropped a 99-86 decision last night at the Delta Center.

It wasn't a pretty evening. In a city that is going to host the Olympics next month, the Celtics shot poorly, played with the efficiency of the Jamaican bobsled team, and generally felt they were victimized by some old expatriate East German judges. But the reality is that they had no answers to stopping Utah inside, as the Jazz overpowered them with layups on one end, blocked shots at the other, and rebounds at both.

Boston got another sparkler from Paul Pierce (28 points), but were 3-point reliant for too much of the night (30 attempts). They trailed by 13 early in the fourth and never got closer than 7 the rest of the way.

Antoine Walker had 19 for Boston, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. Bryon Russell led five Utah players in double figures with 19.

The Celtics failed in their attempt to sweep the Jazz for the first time since 1987-88. They also battled officials Joe DeRosa, Blane Reichelt, and Gary Zielinski all night, mostly futile efforts.

They passed out Jerry Sloan Bobblehead Dolls for this one - and the Utah coach must have felt like one after watching the first 12 minutes. Neither team had played in two days (in Utah's case, it was three) and, well, it showed in a first quarter that could charitably be called toxic.