SALT LAKE CITY — When the Celtics defeated the Blazers on Thursday night despite missing two key starters, it felt like a nice bonus that could salvage a potentially treacherous road trip. It seemed illogical to believe they could repeat the feat on the road Saturday against the Jazz, one of the NBA’s top teams.

But Boston received contributions from several unlikely sources, as it had a blistering first half and never let up, storming to a 112-104 win. It was the Celtics’ ninth victory in 10 games and perhaps their most impressive this season.

The Celtics were without Jae Crowder, who is in Dallas for a family medical issue, and Avery Bradley, who is out with a strained Achilles’. Then on Saturday, Crowder’s replacement, Jaylen Brown, was sidelined for the second half with a hip strain.

But on this night, somehow, none of that mattered, even against the third-ranked defense in the NBA. The Celtics shot 59.2 from the field and held Utah to 40.2 percent shooting.

Isaiah Thomas finished with 29 points, but the difference was Boston’s bench. Gerald Green made 7 of 8 shots and poured in 16 points, Kelly Olynyk had 19, and James Young, who had just 26 points all season entering Saturday, chipped in with 10.

The Celtics had a hot start, making 14 of 18 shots in the first quarter. With 42.4 seconds left, Olynyk hit a 3-pointer from the right arc, and then in the final seconds Marcus Smart came up with a steal and fed Olynyk for a layup, giving Boston a 33-23 lead.

Green carried the Celtics in the second quarter, making all five of his shots — including a pair of 3-pointers — to score 12 points. With 4:07 left, Thomas flipped a pass behind his back to Al Horford, who hit a 3-pointer to give the Celtics their largest lead, 53-34.

The Jazz appeared in position to make a run at the start of the third quarter, as they quickly whittled the deficit to 8. But the Celtics stormed back behind another unlikely source. Midway through the period Smart went to the bench because of a cramp and he was replaced by Young.

The third-year wing quickly converted a layup in transition and then added a 3-pointer and another basket inside, helping the Celtics push their lead back to 77-65. Boston then all but finished off the Jazz, as Horford and Thomas hit back-to-back 3s during an 8-0 flurry to start the period, making it 85-65.

Utah pulled within 6 points in the final minute, but it was too little, too late.

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Brown has shown flashes of his potential and freakish athleticism this season. Quite simply, he can attack the basket with a combination of speed, power, and agility that few other players possess.

That package has allowed him to get to the rim frequently, particularly as he has taken on a larger role in recent weeks. But for Brown, it has been a challenge to complete plays that start out with such promise.

“Not a lot of guys can finish at the rim around people in this league, and that’s something he’ll improve on,’’ Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “He’s got a tremendous amount of ability with regard to being able to extend his body, hang in the air, those types of things. And finishing is something that comes with time.’’

This season, according to the NBA’s player tracking data, Brown has converted just 51 percent of his layups. By comparison, fellow small forward Crowder has made 77.2 percent of his attempts.

This discrepancy is partly due to the fact that the ever-athletic Brown is constantly attacking and putting himself in position to make more acrobatic, nontraditional shots. He has played 621 fewer minutes than Crowder this season, but attempted 21 more layups.

But he also understands he must convert his chances at a higher rate. In the Celtics’ win over the Blazers on Thursday, Brown missed three of his attempts near the rim, and also was unable to finish a few others after he was fouled.

“I don’t know what it was,’’ Brown said. “I’ve got to do a better job. I’m kicking myself over it. I probably missed four or five shots — normal shots, and-ones. You have to be a little more locked in, just finish those plays.’’

Brown is 20 years old, of course, and has yet to even complete his first full pro season. When he inevitably improves his ability to close out plays that begin so majestically, he will be even more dangerous.

“All of us shooting a layup with nobody in a gym is a little different than finishing in an NBA game with guys flying at you,’’ Stevens said. “That’s tough. That’s just something you learn over time and you have to get better at.’’

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Fab Melo, the Celtics’ first-round draft pick in 2012, died at age 26 on Saturday in his native Brazil, according to multiple reports.

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim told ESPN the cause of death is not yet known, but according to a report from Brazil, Melo died in his sleep. He lived with his mother and two sisters.

The Celtics hadn’t issued any statement on Melo’s death as of Saturday night.

Boston drafted the former Syracuse star with the 22nd overall pick. The 7-foot center appeared in just six games as a rookie for the Celtics in 2012-13, shuttling to and from the D-League Maine Red Claws, for whom he played in 33 games.

The Celtics traded Melo to the Memphis Grizzlies for Donte Greene in August 2013. Melo was waived by Memphis two weeks later and picked up by the Dallas Mavericks, who waived him after six weeks. Melo also played for the Texas Legends of the D-League before signing overseas in 2014 with Club Athletico Paulistano in the Brazilian league.

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Jonas Jerebko is still trying to adjust to playing with a mask after breaking his nose during a collision with Brown during Boston’s win over the Clippers on Feb. 5.

He has appeared a bit uncomfortable taking outside shots recently. Entering Saturday night’s game against the Jazz, Jerebko had made just 1 of 5 shots with the mask, the only basket a layup.

On Friday, the forward went to the University of Utah to take some extra shots and try to develop a rhythm while wearing the headgear. He said the broken nose has also made it difficult for him to breathe.

“I mean, it is what it is,’’ Jerebko said. “So I don’t know if you could ever get used to it . . . It’s not very comfortable.’’

Jerebko said he will stop wearing the mask whenever he is medically cleared to do so, but he has no timetable.

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Although Saturday’s game was the last between the Celtics and Jazz this season, Stevens will get another chance to coach against his former Butler University pupil, Gordon Hayward, this year. Hayward was selected as a Western Conference All-Star reserve, and Stevens will guide the Eastern Conference squad.

“I’m so happy for him,’’ Stevens said of Hayward.

Stevens has made it clear that he is not as focused on his own honor. He reiterated Saturday that he would be more pleased if another Celtics player was joining guard Thomas in New Orleans instead of him.

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach @globe.com.