Facing Tough Competition
In today’s six NBA games, the spotlight was on the Phoenix Suns facing the Boston Celtics, where three giants Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker each scored over 20 points. However, despite their efforts, the Suns suffered a 112-127 defeat on the road against the league-leading Celtics, marking their second consecutive loss in six days.
Acknowledging the Challenge
Frank Vogel, the head coach of the Suns, acknowledged the Celtics’ strength, stating, “They are the best in the league, and they are difficult to defend against. We tried everything to limit them, but we fell short.”
Celtics’ Key Strategy
The Celtics’ success may have stemmed from a specific demand by their head coach, Joe Mazzulla, who emphasized a quick-shooting mentality, even after timeouts or whistles. This strategy proved effective as the Celtics secured their second victory against the Suns in a short span, hitting a total of 40 three-pointers, including 25 in today’s game.
Dominant Third Quarter
Despite only a five-point lead at halftime, the Celtics dominated the third quarter with a 37-25 run, laying the foundation for their victory and becoming the first team to secure a spot in the postseason. With a record of 52 wins and 14 losses, they are 16 games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers, who are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Individual Performances
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 37 points on 14-of-23 shooting, accompanied by 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Jayson Tatum contributed 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 10-of-18 shooting, while veteran center Al Horford added 24 points and 3 steals. Derrick White chipped in with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals.
Balanced Scoring for the Suns
Despite the loss, four Suns players scored over 20 points. Devin Booker led with 23 points and 7 assists, followed by Bradley Beal with 22 points and 7 assists. Kevin Durant and Grayson Allen each contributed 20 points, with Bol Bol adding 10 points off the bench.
Suns’ Standing
This defeat marked the second game of the Suns’ four-game road trip, leaving them with a record of 38 wins and 28 losses, placing them seventh in the Western Conference, trailing the Sacramento Kings by 0.5 games for the sixth seed in the postseason.(Betso88)