Mike Budenholzer on Devin Booker’s game winner over Milwaukee Bucks
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer complimented his team on their execution of the play that led to Devin Booker’s game-winning shot over the Bucks.
The defending NBA champion Boston Celtics snapped the Phoenix Suns‘ four-game win streak in Wednesday night’s 132-102 victory before a sellout crowd of 17,071 at PHX Arena.
The Celtics (54-19) shot 22-of-52 from 3 in blitzing the Suns (35-38), who remain a 10th seed with the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.
Phoenix had a chance to climb up to ninth in the West ahead of Sacramento (35-37).
The ninth seed plays host to the 10th seed in the play-in with the winner playing at the 7-8 loser for the eighth seed in the West.
Oklahoma City is the West’s top seed with the NBA’s best record.
Kristaps Porzingis paced the Celtics with 30 points in 29 minutes while Kevin Durant led the Suns with 30 points as well.
Phoenix plays its next game Friday at Minnesota. The Suns are 0-3 against the Timberwolves (41-32).
The Phoenix Suns are learning just how good the defending NBA champions are.
Leading by as many as 34 points in the third quarter, the Boston Celtics took a 108-81 advantage into the fourth quarter.
The Celtics lead the NBA in 3-point makes (17.8) and attempts (48.2). They’re 18-of-42 from distance through three quarters.
Kristaps Porzingis has 30 points in 29 minutes. He’s four points shy of tying his season high of 34 Jan. 29 against Chicago.
Kevin Durant has 30 points to lead the Suns.
Celtics up 19 points at half on Suns
Boston Celtics are showing why they’re the defending NBA champions as they’ve led by as many as 25 points in taking a 73-54 halftime lead at PHX Arena.
The Celtics went on a 25-6 run in the second quarter to take a 71-48 lead late in the first half. They are 14-of-32 from 3.
Boston is without Jayson Tatum, who is sidelined with an ankle sprain.
With a noticeable number of Celtics’ fans in the arena largely due to “snowbirds” being in the Valley to get away from wintry weather, Boston has received numerous cheers throughout the first half.
Kristaps Porzingis leads the Celtics with 17 points while Kevin Durant leads all scorers with 20 points.
The Phoenix Suns endured an avalanche of 3s from the Boston Celtics to only trail by four points, 42-38, after one.
The Celtics hit seven of their first nine 3s as they lead the NBA in 3s made and attempted. They finished the quarter 10-of-17 from deep.
Seven different Celtics have hit at least one 3.
Trailing by as many as 12 points, Phoenix went on a 10-0 run to cut Boston’s advantage to one with 4:33 left in the first.
Kevin Durant leads all scorers with 16 points. He’s averaging 35.3 points in his last three games.
Suns sticking with winning starting lineup
The Suns are rolling with Collin Gillespie, Devin Booker, Ryan Dunn, Kevin Durant and Nick Richards in their starting lineup. The Suns are 3-0 with this starting unit.
Gillespie, a two-way player, is starting for the injured Bradley Beal, who is missing his fifth straight game with a hamstring injury.
The Celtics will be without Jayson Tatum (ankle), but have the luxury of starting veteran Al Horford in his place. Boston is starting Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis and Horford.
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer coached Horford in Atlanta. Singing his praises, Budenholzer said Horford is “one of my favorite people and players of all time.”
Budenholzer added: “I probably wouldn’t be sitting here without Al Horford.”
Beal out for Suns; Tatum ruled out for Celtics
Bradley Beal will miss his fifth straight game for the Suns while recovering from a left hamstring strain. Celtics’ All-Star Jayson Tatum is officially ruled out after previously being upgraded from doubtful to questionable with a left ankle sprain suffered in Boston’s game at Sacramento earlier this week.
Phoenix also lists G League/two-way players Jalen Bridges and TyTy Washington Jr. out, while the Celtics list Xavier Tillman out with a left knee sprain, and G League/two-way players JD Davison, Miles Norris and Drew Peterson also out.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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