The Celtics aim to regain their momentum as they welcome the opponents at home Phoenix Suns This marks the second and concluding matchup of the season between these two squads. In their previous encounter, the Celtics secured victory with a score of 132-102 during their recent away stint. Last year, the Celtics swept the series 2-0. Historically, they hold an overall record of 78 wins against 60 losses and stand at 43 victories out of 24 matches held here in Boston.
The Suns maintained their key players from last season, including Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Grayson Allen. After parting ways with head coach Frank Vogel, they appointed Mike Budenholzer as his replacement. The team welcomed Ryan Dunn through a rookie deal and added free agents Oso Ighodaro, Mason Plumlee, Monte Morris, and Tyus Jones. Leading up to the trade deadline, they made several moves: trading Josh Okogie to Charlotte for Nick Richards; waiving EJ Liddell and Nassir Little; and swapping Jusuf Nurkic with Charlotte for Cody Martin and Vasa Micic.
The Celtics stay in second place in the Eastern Conference. They trail first-place Cleveland by five games but lead third-place New York by eight games and fourth-place Indiana by eleven games. At home, they have a record of 24 wins and 13 losses, with a recent streak of nine victories out of their last ten matches. Additionally, they hold an impressive record of 21 wins versus just 8 losses when playing against teams from the West. Their most recent contest ended in defeat following a series of nine consecutive wins.
The Suns have dropped to 11th position in the Western conference, trailing the top team, Oklahoma City, by 29 games. Currently, they sit one game behind Sacramento at 10th spot and 2.5 games behind ninth-place Dallas. In comparison, Phoenix is two games ahead of Portland sitting at 12th place. Their away record stands at 12 wins and 26 losses, with recent form showing five victories out of their past ten matches. Additionally, they hold an even record of 14-14 when facing opponents from the East but find themselves on a losing streak after four consecutive defeats.
The Celtics recently finished their first ever 6-0 road trip in team history. However, upon returning home, they suffered their initial loss of the season, falling to the Heat with a score of 124-103. Following their upcoming match against Phoenix at home, they will hit the road again for consecutive games in New York and Orlando. To conclude their season, they'll face off twice more against the Charlotte Hornets right at home.
The Suns are currently in the second match of their three-game away series. They suffered a defeat against Milwaukee in the initial game and since then, they've had two days without a game. The road trip will conclude in New York on Sunday. Their last stretch of the season includes consecutive home games against Golden State, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio, followed by the finale in Sacramento.
Due to ongoing recovery from an illness, Kristaps Porzingis did not play in Wednesday’s game. Similarly, Al Horford skipped the match to allow his sprained toe time to heal. Additionally, Jrue Holiday was absent because of discomfort in his shoulder. As of now, all three have been removed from the injury list. Despite playing in Wednesday’s game, Jaylen Brown remains uncertain for upcoming matches as he continues to deal with persistent knee soreness.
For the Phoenix Suns, Bradley Beal has been out with a hamstring injury since March 16. He is returning for this game and I’m going to guess that he will return to the starting lineup. However, they may opt to ease him in off the bench. The Suns get one star back and lose another as Kevin Durant will be out for this game with a sprained ankle.
Probable Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jordan Walsh
Luke Kornet
Torrey Craig
Sam Hauser
Al Horford
Xavier Tillman, Sr
2 Way Players
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Miles Norris
Injuries/Out
Jaylen Brown (knee) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Probable Suns Starters
Suns Reserves
Bol Bol
Oso Ighodaro
Tyus Jones
Damion Lee
Cody Martin
Vasa Micic
Monte Morris
Royce O’Neale
Mason Plumlee
Two Way Players
Collin Gillespie
Jalen Bridges
TyTy Washington, Jr
Injuries/Out
Kevin Durant (ankle) out
Head Coach
Mike Budenholzer
Key Matchups
Jrue Holiday versus Devin Booker
Booker is currently averaging 25.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.0 steal per contest. His shooting percentages stand at 45.6% from the floor and 33.8% from three-point range. During their initial matchup against the Celtics, he recorded 14 points, 7 boards, and 10 helpers but struggled with a field-goal percentage of 30.8% and just 16.7% from deep. Booker has demonstrated his scoring prowess before, most notably when he scored an impressive 70 points during a game at the TD Garden back in 2017.
Derrick White vs Bradley Beal
Beal is scoring an average of 17.3 points, grabbing 3.4 rebounds, dishing out 3.6 assists, and recording 1 steal per game. His shooting percentages stand at 50.5% from the field and 39.5% from three-point range. He sat out the initial matchup with the Celtics when they played in Phoenix. I anticipate his return to the starting five; however, there’s also a chance he might come off the bench instead.
Honorable Mention
Jaylen Brown versus Grayson Allen
I'm assuming Allen will take over Durant’s spot. His stats show an average of 10.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per contest. He has been shooting at a rate of 44.6% overall and 43.1% from three-point range. During their initial matchup against the Celtics, he scored only 2 points coming off the bench, securing 1 rebound, dishing out 1 assist, and making 1 steal without scoring from the field. Given his proficiency as a sharpshooter from deep, the Celtics must focus on defending him outside the paint.
Keys to the Game
Defense - A strong defense is crucial for victory. Currently, the Celtics boast a defensive rating of 110.6, ranking fifth, whereas the Suns hold an 117.5 defensive rating, placing them at twenty-seventh. The Suns attempt approximately 37.7 three-point shots each game with a success rate of 38.4%. Conversely, during their last match against Miami, the Celtics conceded a field-goal percentage of 51.8%, along with allowing opponents to sink 46.7% of their attempts from long range. This indicates areas needing improvement defensively. Facing such proficient shooters as the Suns, the Celtics must elevate their defensive performance significantly to secure a win.
Rebound The Celtics must improve their offensive rebounding to secure additional possession opportunities and stop the Suns from capitalizing on quick transition scores. Defensively, they should aggressively pursue rebounds to avoid giving the Suns easy follow-up baskets or secondary scoring chances. Currently, the Celtics rank tenth with an average of 45.0 rebounds per game, whereas the Suns sit at twenty-fifth with 42.6 rebounds per contest. Success in rebounding hinges largely on determination; thus, the Celtics will need to exert extra energy to dominate under both hoops.
Be Aggressive The Celtics must begin the game with intensity right from the initial jump ball. On both ends of the court, they should maintain an assertive approach—pressuring defensively, attacking the hoop, securing rebounds, scrambling after loose balls, and simply competing more vigorously overall. It’s crucial for them to establish dominance early and sustain this high level of play all the way through to the last second. They cannot afford to allow the Suns to dominate any phase due to lackluster effort; remember, even top-tier teams risk losing against lower-ranked opponents when they fail to bring their A-game.
Move the Ball Carefully To maximize scoring opportunities per possession, the Celtics must maintain fluid ball movement. Over-reliance on individual plays often leads them into difficulties. Their effectiveness peaks with continuous passing and dynamic playmaking rather than isolation tactics. Standalone efforts rarely secure victories. Historically, they excel with superior team passes—recording an impressive record of 41 wins against only two losses when out-assisting opponents—but falter with less collective distribution, going 13-17 in such instances. In their game versus the Heat, Boston managed merely 24 assists compared to Miami’s 28. It will be crucial for them to sustain this motion offense and locate teammates in optimal shooting positions during upcoming matches.
X-Factors
Home Game The Celtics have an advantage being back at their home venue, where the support from local supporters can energize them during the match. It’s crucial for them to channel this enthusiasm into focused gameplay. Meanwhile, the Suns find themselves in the middle of a three-game away series; thus, they might face disruptions due to constant travel, adjusting to unfamiliar accommodations, and performing under opposing crowds' pressure, along with potential weariness from journeying. For the Celtics to succeed, they must defend their turf vigorously right from the start.
Officiating - Each time, I emphasize how officiating can potentially act as a wildcard in every match. Different groups of referees interpret the rules uniquely; some meticulously penalize minor infractions, whereas others permit significant physicality without interruption. Referees sometimes show bias towards the home side or strive for impartiality between competing teams. It’s crucial for the Celtics to adapt their strategy according to the referee's style and ensure external factors like inconsistent calls do not distract them from maintaining concentration during games.
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