Despite Jayson Tatum’s absence due to an ankle sprain, the Boston Celtics had little trouble defeating the Phoenix Suns, securing a dominant 132-102 victory on Wednesday night. Even with a stellar performance from Kevin Durant, who scored 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting, the Celtics’ offensive firepower proved too much for the Suns to handle.
Tatum, who injured his ankle in a previous game against the Sacramento Kings, was deemed unavailable for this matchup. In his place, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis led the charge. Brown delivered an impressive 24-point performance, while Porzingis was the team’s top scorer with 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Meanwhile, Phoenix struggled to find consistent offensive support beyond Durant, with Devin Booker managing just 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting.
The game began with an offensive explosion from both teams. The Celtics connected on ten three-pointers in the first quarter alone, but despite their hot shooting, they held only a narrow 42-38 lead after the first 12 minutes. Durant’s scoring prowess kept the Suns competitive, as he poured in 16 points in the opening frame with a display of classic shot-making.
However, the Celtics took control in the second quarter. Although their three-point production dipped slightly with four makes from beyond the arc, their defensive intensity improved, and Phoenix struggled to keep up. Durant cooled off significantly, scoring just four points in the second quarter, with his first basket coming in the final two minutes of the half. The Suns managed only 16 points in the frame, allowing the Celtics to stretch their lead to 73-54 by halftime.
Without Tatum, Brown stepped confidently into a leadership role, setting the tone with aggressive play on both ends of the court. Early in the third quarter, he punctuated his performance with a powerful dunk and his fourth three-pointer of the game, keeping Phoenix at bay. The Celtics’ hot shooting from deep remained a decisive factor, as they knocked down 18-of-42 three-pointers by the end of the third. In contrast, the Suns struggled mightily, making just 9-of-32 from beyond the arc. This shooting disparity allowed Boston to extend their lead beyond 30 points, taking a commanding 108-81 advantage into the fourth quarter.
The final period offered little drama. With the outcome effectively decided, the Celtics rested key players like Brown and Porzingis, while Durant remained on the bench for Phoenix. Boston cruised to their 30th road win of the season, while the Suns added another disappointing loss to their record.
Next, the Celtics will continue their road trip with a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, their fifth of six consecutive away games, scheduled for 8 PM on NBA TV.
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