Porzingis and Brown every made 4 3-tips even as gambling simply 3 quarters and Boston matched a season first-rate with its 7th directly win. The Celtics (54-19) have gained 12 in their beyond thirteen video games and are four-zero on a six-recreation avenue trip.
Boston cruised regardless of All-Star Jayson Tatum sitting out with a sprained left ankle.
Al Horford had sixteen factors and 10 rebounds, Derrick White brought sixteen factors and 7 assists and Jrue Holiday additionally scored sixteen factors for the Celtics, who’ve gained 14 in their beyond 15 away contests. Boston trails the first-area Cleveland Cavaliers via way of means of four half video games withinside the Eastern Conference race.
Kevin Durant scored 30 factors in 3 quarters for the Suns, who had a 4-recreation prevailing streak halted withinside the finale of a five-recreation homestand. Phoenix (35-38) is tied with Dallas for the very last Western Conference play-in spot. The Sacramento Kings are a half-recreation in advance of the Suns and the Mavericks.
Devin Booker brought 14 factors, 10 assists and 7 rebounds and Nick Richards scored 10 factors for the Suns, who performed with out Bradley Beal (strained left hamstring) for the 5th directly game.
Boston made 22 of fifty two three-factor attempts (42.three percentage) and shot 50.6 percentage overall. Sam Hauser scored eleven off the bench for the Celtics.
Phoenix linked on forty one.four percentage of its photographs and turned into thirteen of forty one (31.7 percentage) from in the back of the arc.
The Celtics failed to leave out Tatum as they by no means trailed. Boston knocked down seven three-guidelines over the primary four:eleven of the sport for a 21-nine lead, and the Celtics completed with 10 treys withinside the length. Holiday netted Boston’s first 2-factor basket with 4 mins left withinside the region.
Durant scored sixteen factors withinside the length to assist Phoenix path 42-38.
The Celtics used a 27-6 run withinside the 2d region to open up a 25-factor lead. Boston scored 15 directly to give up the burst with Porzingis’ layup making it 73-forty eight with 1:forty one left withinside the half.
Boston led 73-fifty four on the spoil at the back of 17 factors from Porzingis. Durant scored 20 withinside the 1/2 of for the Suns.
Phoenix trailed 77-sixty one after a basket with the aid of using Durant with 9:26 left withinside the 0.33 area earlier than the Celtics scored 19 of the subsequent 25 factors. Luke Kornet’s dunk culminated the run to make it 96-sixty seven with 4:forty seven remaining.
Porzingis tired a 3-pointer and delivered a quick jumper to enhance Boston’s cause 106-seventy two with 2:forty five left withinside the 0.33, and the Celtics endured to steer comfortably.
