Game ID: 22300920
Boston Celtics @ Phoenix Suns
Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 8:30 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 26 24 28 29 107BOS 31 31 25 30 117
BOS @ PHX ScoutingBOS @ PHX Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
PHX availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 5 since 2/14, returns tonight: 20 min (60% of 34)
OUT Gordon missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
NEW Bol 11 to 22 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 3/03 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 3 since 2/25, returns tonight: 30 min (109% of 28)
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 20 min since (60% of 34)
NEW Bol 11 to 22 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restBACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 27 min since (80% of 34)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 30 min since (109% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Bol 11 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Okogie missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 30 min since (89% of 34)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 26 min since (93% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Bol 11 to 16 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Okogie missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 31 min since (92% of 34)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 25 min since (89% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 34 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 4 since 3/03, returns tonight: 38 min (105% of 36)
OUT Okogie missed 4 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 32 min since (96% of 34)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 26 min since (93% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 34 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/14 · 2 days' restOUT Okogie missed 5 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/11 after 4, 38 min since (105% of 36)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 26 min since (93% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 34 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/15 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 2 since 3/11, returns tonight: 26 min (92% of 28)
OUT Okogie missed 6 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/11 after 4, 38 min since (105% of 36)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 33 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Okogie missed 7 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/11 after 4, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Gordon back 3/15 after 2, 26 min since (92% of 28)
BOS availability going into 3/01 · 2 days' restOUT Tillman missed 2 since 2/24, returns tonight: 15 min (123% of 12)
OUT Queta missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
BOS availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 4 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Tillman back 3/01 after 2, 15 min since (123% of 12)
BOS availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 5 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Tillman back 3/01 after 2, 16 min since (134% of 12)
BOS availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 6 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Tillman back 3/01 after 2, 16 min since (134% of 12)
BOS availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 7 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Brissett missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Tillman back 3/01 after 2, 15 min since (126% of 12)
BOS availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 8 since 2/22, returns tonight: 2 min (17% of 11)
OUT Brissett missed 3 since 3/05, returns tonight: 19 min (183% of 10)
BACK Tillman back 3/01 after 2, 15 min since (126% of 12)
BOS availability going into 3/12 · back-to-backOUT Porziņģis missed 2 since 3/09, out tonight
OUT Tillman missed 2 since 3/09, returns tonight: 26 min (215% of 12)
BACK Queta back 3/11 after 8, 2 min since (17% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 3/11 after 3, 19 min since (183% of 10)
BOS availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 3 since 3/09, out tonight
BACK Tillman back 3/12 after 2, 26 min since (215% of 12)
BACK Queta back 3/11 after 8, 2 min since (17% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 3/11 after 3, 18 min since (171% of 10)
NEW Kornet 15 to 21 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/17 · 2 days' restOUT Porziņģis missed 4 since 3/09, out tonight
OUT Queta missed 2 since 3/12, returns tonight: 8 min (75% of 11)
BACK Tillman back 3/12 after 2, 22 min since (180% of 12)
BACK Brissett back 3/11 after 3, 13 min since (124% of 10)
NEW Kornet 15 to 20 min over the last 4
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Beal at 18 a game. Without Booker (3 straight), Okogie (3 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 103, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brown at 29 and Tatum at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-10 a night and Phoenix plus-3 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 15 times a game to Boston's 11. Call it Boston 116, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/02 vs HOU 109-118 — PHX notes
PHX lost 109-118. PHX shot 46% (39 of 85) to HOU's 44%, 9 of 29 from three. PHX turned it over 19 times to HOU's 12, and HOU turned those into 13 steals. Durant led with 30 (12 of 19, 1 of 4 from three, 5 of 8 at the line); Booker added 24, O'Neale 20. Q2 was theirs, 25-16, the deficit cut from 19 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 102-84 against them. Allen's -19 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/03 vs OKC 110-118 — PHX notes
PHX lost 110-118. PHX shot 44% (40 of 91) to OKC's 48%, 14 of 39 from three. PHX turned it over 21 times to OKC's 5, and OKC turned those into 16 steals. Beal led with 31 (10 of 14, 3 of 5 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Durant added 20, Gordon 15. Q3 was theirs, 33-23, the deficit cut from 14 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 95-77 against them. They led by as many as 13.
3/05 @ DEN 117-107 — PHX notes
PHX won 117-107 in 1 overtime. PHX shot 44% (42 of 96) to DEN's 43%, 15 of 34 from three, and went to the line 22 times to DEN's 14 — 18 points from the stripe to their 10. PHX turned it over 9 times to DEN's 14. Durant led with 35 (14 of 34, 3 of 8 from three); Allen added 28, Beal 16. The hinge was Q2, 37-18: PHX came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 15, and the lead reached 22. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/07 vs TOR 120-113 — PHX notes
PHX won 120-113. PHX shot 51% (44 of 86) to TOR's 46%, 15 of 35 from three. PHX turned it over 14 times to TOR's 9. The glass went 49-36 for them. Durant led with 35 (11 of 19, 2 of 5 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Allen added 26, Beal 20. The hinge was Q1, 39-25: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
3/09 vs BOS 107-117 — PHX notes
PHX lost 107-117. PHX shot 51% (44 of 87) to BOS's 49%, 9 of 31 from three. Durant led with 45 (18 of 26, 4 of 7 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Beal added 25, Bol 13. Q3 was theirs, 28-25, the deficit cut from 12 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 92-79 against them. Eubanks's -20 in 11 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/11 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Allen at 21 and Garland at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mitchell (6 straight), Strus (4 straight), Eva. Mobley (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 33 and Beal at 20 a game. Without Booker (4 straight), Okogie (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-4 a night and Cleveland minus-5 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 15 times a game to Cleveland's 11. Call it Cleveland 113, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/14 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 29 and Tatum at 27 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Porziņģis (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Durant at 34 and Beal at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Okogie (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 14 times a game to Boston's 10 and the defense, Boston allowing 107 a night to Phoenix's 113. Call it Boston 117, Phoenix 111.
3/15 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 15 free throws a game; Bridges at 23 and Miller at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Durant at 34 and Beal at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Gordon (2 straight), Okogie (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-7 a night and Charlotte minus-7 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 105 a night to Phoenix's 115. Call it Phoenix 112, Charlotte 111, Charlotte keeping it close.
3/17 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 31 and Lillard at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Middleton (16 straight). 2 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Okogie (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-9 a night and Milwaukee minus-4 and the line, where Milwaukee takes 24 free throws a game to Phoenix's 17. Call it Phoenix 116, Milwaukee 115, Milwaukee keeping it close.
3/01 vs DAL 138-110 — BOS notes
BOS won 138-110. BOS shot 55% (52 of 94) to DAL's 47%, 21 of 43 from three. Tatum led with 32 (10 of 19, 5 of 9 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Brown added 25, Porziņģis 24. The hinge was Q4, 36-20: a lead of 12 became 28. White was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/03 vs GSW 140-88 — BOS notes
BOS won 140-88. BOS shot 55% (53 of 96) to GSW's 39%, 25 of 49 from three. BOS turned it over 7 times to GSW's 17. Brown led with 29 (11 of 19, 5 of 10 from three); Tatum added 27, Pritchard 19. The hinge was Q1, 44-22: from level to 22 ahead, and the lead reached 56. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +40.
3/05 @ CLE 104-105 — BOS notes
BOS lost 104-105. BOS shot 42% (39 of 93) to CLE's 43%, 15 of 38 from three. BOS turned it over 13 times to CLE's 8, and CLE turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 53-42 for them. Tatum led with 26 (8 of 21, 5 of 9 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Porziņģis added 24, Brown 21. Q1 was theirs, 33-25, but the other 3 periods went 80-71 against them. They led by as many as 22. Holiday's -14 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/07 @ DEN 109-115 — BOS notes
BOS lost 109-115. BOS shot 45% (41 of 91) to DEN's 50%, 11 of 38 from three. BOS turned it over 12 times to DEN's 7, and DEN turned those into 10 steals. Brown led with 41 (16 of 29, 2 of 7 from three, 7 of 14 at the line); Porziņģis added 24, Tatum 15. Q4 was theirs, 29-25, the deficit cut from 10 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 90-80 against them. Tillman's -12 in 13 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/09 @ PHX 117-107 — BOS notes
BOS won 117-107. BOS shot 49% (46 of 94) to PHX's 51%, 15 of 39 from three. Tatum led with 29 (11 of 28, 5 of 9 from three); Brown added 27, Holiday 15. The hinge was Q2, 31-24: a lead of 5 became 12, and the lead reached 15. Pritchard was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
3/11 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Simons at 28 and Banton at 19 a game. Without Grant (2 straight), Sharpe (26 straight), Walker (2 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 15 free throws a game; Brown at 29 and Tatum at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to Portland's 118 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 17 times a game to Boston's 11. Call it Boston 118, Portland 111.
3/12 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sexton at 21 and Clarkson at 20 a game. Without Markkanen (3 straight), Hendricks (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 103, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 15 free throws a game; Brown at 29 and Tatum at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Porziņģis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 103 a night to Utah's 123 and the line, where Utah takes 22 free throws a game to Boston's 15. Call it Boston 119, Utah 114.
3/14 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 29 and Tatum at 27 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Porziņģis (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Durant at 34 and Beal at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Okogie (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 14 times a game to Boston's 10 and the defense, Boston allowing 107 a night to Phoenix's 113. Call it Boston 117, Phoenix 111.
3/17 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kuzma at 24 and Avdija at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Bagley III (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 33 and Tatum at 27 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Porziņģis (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-0 a night and Washington minus-13 and the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to Washington's 33. Call it Boston 120, Washington 110, Boston by 10.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAH A. Horford
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
JS J. Springer
JT J. Tatum
LK L. Kornet
PP P. Pritchard
SH S. Hauser
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
DE D. Eubanks
DR D. Roddy
EG E. Gordon
GA G. Allen
JN J. Nurkić
KD K. Durant
NU Nurkic
RO R. O'Neale
SL S. Lee
BOS/PHX the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown lead Celtics past Suns 117-107, snapping rare 2-game skid
PHOENIX -- — Jayson Tatum scored 29 points, Jaylen Brown added 27 and the NBA-leading Boston Celtics beat the Phoenix Suns 117-107 on Saturday night.
The Celtics came into the game on a rare two-game skid after dropping games to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets . After Saturday's win, Boston still hasn't lost three in a row and improved to 49-14 overall.
“We’re not perfect. We try to be, we really do try,” Tatum said. “But we make mistakes. This is a tough league, the other teams are really good and have great players. It’s all about how you respond.
“You want to be a special team, you’ve got to do a good job responding.”
Tatum said the Celtics used Friday's off day in Phoenix to recharge, playing 18 holes of golf and enjoying some sunshine and 70-degree weather in the desert. He said it helped the team reset and get back to winning.
“Today, we bounced back in a positive way,” Tatum said.
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.
“I just wanted to be aggressive, play through anything,” Durant said. “I was able to knock some shots down and loosen the defense. We were right there so many times, but they made big plays coming out of time outs.”
Brown scored 18 points to lead the Celtics to a 62-50 halftime advantage and they never trailed in the second half.
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 3 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. Al Horford hit a corner 3-pointer with 1:54 left to put the Celtics up 110-102.
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.
“They were amazing, they were tremendous,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I thought Payton changed the game with his defense.”
Boston starter Kristaps Porzingis missed the game with right hamstring tightness.
Booker missed his fourth straight game with a sprained ankle. The four-time All-Star has returned to the floor for practice as he nears his expected return.
“I thought we battled, I’m proud of how hard we fought,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. ”I didn’t like how many loose balls we weren’t getting at the beginning of the game — got to have more urgency against a team with the best record in the NBA. But I thought we caught ourselves and played a spirited game throughout the rest of it.”
The Suns came into the game as the No. 6 team in the crowded Western Conference race and are trying to stay out of the postseason play-in tournament. The top six seeds in each conference automatically move to the first best-of-seven round.