Ending a two-game losing streak, the Celtics secured a 117-107 victory over the Suns at Footprint Center on Saturday night. Displaying dominance in the final three quarters, Boston established a double-digit lead in the first half, forcing the shorthanded Suns to play catch-up for the remaining 36 minutes. Notably, Phoenix lacked star shooting guard Devin Booker, sidelined with a sprained ankle.
Despite missing Kristaps Porzingis due to a hamstring issue, Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 28 points, contributing to six players scoring in double figures. Tatum also secured a double-double with 10 rebounds, while Luke Kornet made a significant impact off the bench, tallying 14 points and 6 rebounds in Porzingis’ absence.
On the Suns’ side, Kevin Durant delivered an impressive performance with a game-high 45 points, marking a season-high for the All-Star forward.
The win elevated Boston’s record to 1-2 during their ongoing five-game road trip, preventing the Celtics from experiencing their inaugural three-game losing streak of the year.
Here are four key insights from Saturday night’s triumph.
Celtics Reserves Make a Comeback: After a disappointing performance in Denver on Thursday night, where the second unit struggled, Boston’s bench rebounded strongly on Saturday in Phoenix. Facing an undermanned Suns team, the Celtics’ reserves played a pivotal role in establishing a double-digit lead in the first half, outscoring their opponents 18-7 and collectively shooting an impressive 66 percent from the field.
Luke Kornet, making his return to the Celtics rotation, utilized his size advantage to dominate the Suns in the paint, contributing eight points and four rebounds in his initial 10 minutes and finishing with 14 points in 20 minutes. Head coach Joe Mazzulla reverted to the usual rotations, abandoning the tweaks made earlier in the week for Xavier Tillman, resulting in a significantly improved offensive performance for Boston.
Jaylen Brown Continues to Shine Despite Back Injury: Despite being listed on the injury report all week with back problems, the All-Star has shown no signs of slowing down. Leading the team with 18 points in the first half, he has consistently scored 20 or more points in every game since the All-Star Break. Throughout this period, he has only recorded a field goal percentage below 40 percent in a single game, and in six of his last nine games, he has tallied 29 points or more.
Celtics Gain Significant Advantage in Offensive Rebounding: Phoenix generally opts for a smaller lineup, primarily relying on Jusuf Nurkic, and the Celtics strategically exploited this by adopting an assertive rebounding strategy. Seven different Celtics players contributed offensive rebounds, creating numerous second-chance opportunities for Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Derrick White. T
his dominance translated into a substantial 17-8 advantage in second-chance points, ultimately influencing the game’s outcome. While Boston’s big men performed admirably in the low post, it was evident that the team was intent on capitalizing on this approach, exploiting the Suns’ lackadaisical defense, which showed reluctance to commit to physicality or effort plays.
Boston Steers Clear of Initial Three-Game Losing Streak This Season: Facing a challenging hurdle in the midst of their road trip and with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined, the Celtics showcased their resilience to bounce back from a couple of tough losses. Notably, six different players contributed double-digit scores, including Luke Kornet and Payton Pritchard, fostering a well-balanced effort that was absent in the previous game in Denver on Thursday night. The upcoming schedule for the remainder of this month presents a lighter load, commencing with Monday night’s matchup in Portland. This victory may mark the conclusion of any possibility of a three-game losing streak in meaningful games before the playoffs commence.