Celtics clinch playoff spot, as Brown leads drubbing of Suns

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combined for 63 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Phoenix Suns 127-112 on Friday, Philippine time. This win--along with a Philadelphia 76ers loss--gave the Cs a secured playoffs berth.

Jayson Tatum last night:

— 38 Points - 6 Rebounds - 52 FG% - 4 3PM

Jaylen Brown tonight:

— 37 Points - 5 Rebounds - 61 FG% - 5 3PM pic.twitter.com/3eoXJRnNoy

— CelticsMuse (@CelticsMuse) March 15, 2024

Jaylen Brown put on a show to help the Celtics clinch their playoff spot in the East with 37 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

?? 37 PTS
?? 5 REB
?? 5 3PM
?? W pic.twitter.com/t23rCSyDPI

— NBA (@NBA) March 15, 2024

Al Horford finished with 24 points, including six of Boston’s season high-tying 25 3-pointers to help the Celtics down the Suns for the second time in a week.

Boston center Kristaps Porzingis missed his fourth straight game with a right hamstring strain.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 23 points. Bradley Beal finished with 22 points and seven assists. Kevin Durant and Grayson Allen both added 20 points.

Last week, the Celtics overpowered a Suns team playing without Booker (ankle) during a double-digit win in Phoenix, despite a 45-point night by Durant.

Booker started slowly before finishing 9 of 20 from the field. Meanwhile, the All-Star duo of Tatum and Brown combined for 43 of the Celtics’ 65 first-half points.

Tatum was in attack mode for most of the opening 24 minutes, leading a Celtics flurry just before halftime by scoring seven of his team’s final 10 points. That included back-to-back 3s over the former MVP Durant. He also was one of the primary defenders on Durant, limiting him to only five points over the final three quarters.

Jayson Tatum catching FIRE to end the first half as he drains back-to-back threes 🔥

The Celtics star has 23 points at halftime.pic.twitter.com/716gzAoGD4

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 15, 2024

Boston outscored the Suns 75-33 from 3-point range.

Phoenix bolted to a 26-18 lead, but Boston closed the first quarter hot and led 35-32 after the opening minutes.

Bol Bol capped a 19-9 run with a 3-pointer that put the Suns in front 51-50 with 4:58 to play in the second quarter. Boston made 12 of its 24 3-point attempts in the first half, however, and led 65-60 at halftime.

A 9-0 run gave the Celtics a 77-65 lead some breathing room in the third frame, the first time either team led by double digits. Boston stretched its advantage to 95-75 on a Horford 3-pointer with 2:45 left in the third. The Celtics then had a comfortable 102-85 edge heading into the fourth.

With the win, Boston improved to an NBA-best 52-14. The Suns are at No. 8 in the Western Conference, with a 38-28 record.