The Celtics did not shoot the ball well but that did not prevent them from blowing out the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in a 97-81 win that was headlined by their defense, 22 offensive rebounds and a really big Derrick White game for their 3rd straight win of the road trip.
Jaylen Brown joined Jayson Tatum on the injury report, so the Celtics started Derrick White, Ron Harper Jr., Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta. The Suns had a lengthy injury report: Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin, Haywood Highsmith and Cole Anthony; they started Collin Gillespie, Jalen Green, Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn and Mark Williams.
It was a very slow start from three for the Celtics as they started 2/10 from beyond the arc and a 10-0 Phoenix run put the Suns up 15-10. Ron Harper Jr. had 3 rebounds but started the game 1/6 from the field.
Joe Mazulla made mass substitutions at the first time out putting Payton Pricthard, Nikola Vucevic, Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez in with Sam Hauser.
Not a very good quarter for the Celtics: they got 9 offensive rebounds but shot just 9/28 from the field and 3/15 from three. They trailed the Suns, 26-21. Derrick White led the team with 5 points while Nikola Vucevic had 4 points off of the bench.
The Celtics struggled to get their offense going in the first half, but then a Derrick White three and Neemias Queta dunk lead to a Suns timeout. Phoenix still led 41-37 but the Celtics needed some life on offense and those baskets were signs that it was possible.
The Celtics led the Suns at the end of the half, 50-46. It was not a pretty offensive half for Boston: 50 points on 38% from the field and 25% from three but their offensive rebounds and defense got the job done through 24 minutes. Derrick White led the team with 18 points while Neemias Queta had 10 points and 5 rebounds.
The Celtics took it to the Suns in the third quarter. Sam Hauser got going from three, hitting 3 threes in the period and scoring 13 points. Baylor Scheierman had 6 rebounds and was a +19 in the quarter. However, it was the Celtics defense that dominated the quarter. Boston outscored the Suns 30-11 in the 3rd, as Phoenix shot 18% from the field and 11% from three — dominant stuff from Boston’s defense. Sure, Phoenix missed some good looks, but Boston was dominant on the defensive end. The Celtics also out rebounded the Suns 21-6 in the quarter.
It was a Ron Harper Jr. block that was the play off the quarter, however.
The Celtics led 80-57 at the end of three quarters. Derrick White led the team with 18 points while Hauser had 16 and Neemias Queta had 14.
The 4th quarter saw a different start as the Suns fought back into the game scoring the first 7 points of the period and forcing Mazzulla to call a timeout not even 2 minutes in.
Boston was able to regain control of the game, thanks to a pair if Derrick White baskets and big three pointers from Harper Jr. and Baylor Scheierman. An 8-2 run put the Celts back up 22 points.
Scheierman had a double-double in the game with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
It was a dominant 2nd half from the Celtics as they blew out the Suns.
Derrick White was unbelievable in the game with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Meanwhile, Neemias Queta finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds. The Celtics won, 97-81.
Boston shot 40% from the field and 28% from three while the Suns shot 37% from the field and 33% from three. The Celtics next game is Wednesday night at 10 EST in Denver against the Nuggets.
