The Celtics came into the game on a rare two-game skid after dropping games to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets. After the bounce-back win though, Boston avoided its first three-game slide and improved to 49-14 for the season.Big W in The Valley 😎 pic.twitter.com/SozaU9a04E
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 10, 2024
The Suns fought back in the third quarter and Durant's transition 3-pointer cut Boston's lead to 77-74 with 3:54 left, but Jrue Holiday responded with a three of his own and the Celtics took an 87-78 lead into the final quarter.
Boston's Payton Pritchard and Tatum hit back-to-back 3s to start the fourth to push the momentum. Al Horford hit a corner 3-pointer with 1:54 left to put the Celtics up 110-102.
Jrue Holiday pitched in 15 points, six assists, and two steals, while Derrick White finished with 10 poins and nine assists for Boston. Horford was a force in the rebounding department and racked up 12 rebounds alongside nine points.Al Horford puts the Celtics ahead 110-102 with under 2 minutes left in the 4Q!
— NBA (@NBA) March 10, 2024
BOS-PHX Live on ABC pic.twitter.com/1sewqFpMEX
The Celtics got good production from their bench — particularly Luke Kornet and Pritchard. The 7-foot-1 Kornet had 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while Pritchard scored 10. Boston starter Kristaps Porzingis missed the game with right hamstring tightness.
The Suns — playing without injured All-Star Devin Booker — were led by Kevin Durant's season-high 45 points on 18-for-26 shooting.
Bradley Beal added 25 points, while Jusuf Nurkic scored 11 and grabbed 11 rebounds. Booker missed his fourth straight game with a sprained ankle.Kevin Durant tonight:
— Slim (@SlimReaperS7N) March 10, 2024
45 PTS on 26 shots
77.4 TS%
10 REB / 6 AST
Team played the right way guys just didn’t hit their shots. Good things still to come #ComingInHot
pic.twitter.com/GZfxhN4Uah
The Suns came into the game as the no. 6 team in the crowded Western Conference and are trying to stay out of the postseason play-in tournament. The loss dropped Phoenix to 37-27 and into seventh place.
