Game ID: 22401058
Boston Celtics @ Phoenix Suns
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 10:00 PM ET
PHX Arena, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 38 16 27 21 102BOS 42 31 35 24 132
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 3/17 · back-to-backOUT Allen missed 3 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 16 since 2/11, returns tonight: 6 min (43% of 13)
BACK Richards back 3/16 after 2, 19 min since (85% of 23)
BACK Dunn back 3/09 after 2, 15 min since (79% of 19)
BACK Ighodaro back 3/12 after 4, 28 min since (163% of 17)
PHX availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 4 since 3/12, out tonight
BACK Richards back 3/16 after 2, 16 min since (69% of 23)
BACK Ighodaro back 3/12 after 4, 28 min since (161% of 17)
BACK Morris back 3/17 after 16, 6 min since (43% of 13)
PHX availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 2 since 3/17, out tonight
OUT Allen missed 5 since 3/12, out tonight
BACK Richards back 3/16 after 2, 20 min since (87% of 23)
BACK Ighodaro back 3/12 after 4, 26 min since (152% of 17)
BACK Morris back 3/17 after 16, 6 min since (43% of 13)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/24 · 2 days' restOUT Beal missed 3 since 3/17, out tonight
OUT Allen missed 6 since 3/12, returns tonight: 12 min (49% of 24)
OUT Plumlee missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Richards back 3/16 after 2, 20 min since (87% of 23)
NEW Dunn 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Gillespie 14 to 20 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 4 since 3/17, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 3 since 3/19, returns tonight: 11 min (61% of 18)
OUT Morris missed 3 since 3/19, returns tonight: 6 min (48% of 13)
OUT Bol missed 3 since 3/19, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 12)
BACK Allen back 3/24 after 6, 12 min since (49% of 24)
BACK Richards back 3/16 after 2, 22 min since (97% of 23)
NEW Dunn 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Gillespie 14 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/28 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 5 since 3/17, out tonight
BACK Allen back 3/24 after 6, 13 min since (54% of 24)
BACK Plumlee back 3/26 after 3, 11 min since (61% of 18)
BACK Morris back 3/17 after 16, 6 min since (46% of 13)
BACK Bol back 3/26 after 3, 6 min since (51% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Gillespie 14 to 21 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 6 since 3/17, out tonight
BACK Allen back 3/24 after 6, 13 min since (53% of 24)
BACK Plumlee back 3/26 after 3, 11 min since (61% of 18)
BACK Morris back 3/26 after 3, 6 min since (48% of 13)
BACK Bol back 3/26 after 3, 6 min since (51% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Gillespie 14 to 23 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 7 since 3/17, out tonight
BACK Allen back 3/24 after 6, 14 min since (59% of 24)
BACK Plumlee back 3/26 after 3, 11 min since (65% of 18)
BACK Morris back 3/26 after 3, 8 min since (62% of 13)
BACK Bol back 3/26 after 3, 8 min since (63% of 12)
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Gillespie 14 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 4/04 · 2 days' restOUT Beal missed 8 since 3/17, returns tonight: 30 min (94% of 32)
BACK Allen back 3/24 after 6, 18 min since (75% of 24)
BACK Plumlee back 3/26 after 3, 11 min since (65% of 18)
BACK Morris back 3/26 after 3, 8 min since (62% of 13)
BACK Bol back 3/26 after 3, 8 min since (63% of 12)
NEW Gillespie 14 to 24 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/18 · 2 days' restOUT Norris missed 5 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Craig missed 2 since 3/14, returns tonight: 8 min (80% of 10)
BACK Holiday back 3/08 after 4, 35 min since (113% of 31)
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 32 min since (116% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 11 min since (93% of 12)
NEW Horford 28 to 34 min over the last 3
BOS availability going into 3/21 · 2 days' restOUT Norris missed 6 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 30 min since (112% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 13 min since (115% of 12)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 8 min since (80% of 10)
BOS availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Brown missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Norris missed 7 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 28 min since (105% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 13 min since (112% of 12)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 4 min since (44% of 10)
BOS availability going into 3/24 · back-to-backOUT Brown missed 3 since 3/18, returns tonight: 26 min (75% of 35)
OUT Norris missed 8 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 28 min since (105% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 16 min since (140% of 12)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 7 min since (72% of 10)
NEW Hauser 21 to 29 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Norris missed 9 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Brown back 3/24 after 3, 26 min since (75% of 35)
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 29 min since (107% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 19 min since (161% of 12)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 7 min since (72% of 10)
NEW Hauser 21 to 31 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/29 · 2 days' restOUT Norris missed 10 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Brown back 3/24 after 3, 27 min since (78% of 35)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 7 min since (70% of 10)
NEW Hauser 21 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Scheierman 12 to 19 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Norris missed 11 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Brown back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (81% of 35)
NEW Hauser 21 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Scheierman 12 to 20 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 2 since 3/29, returns tonight: 19 min (141% of 13)
OUT Norris missed 12 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Craig missed 2 since 3/29, returns tonight: 19 min (189% of 10)
BACK Brown back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (81% of 35)
NEW Hauser 21 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Kornet 18 to 24 min over the last 4
NEW Scheierman 12 to 18 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Norris missed 13 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Brown back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (81% of 35)
BACK Queta back 4/02 after 2, 19 min since (141% of 13)
BACK Craig back 4/02 after 2, 19 min since (189% of 10)
NEW Kornet 18 to 24 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 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Booker at 25 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Beal (4 straight), Plumlee (3 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 25 and Porziņģis at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-10 a night and Boston plus-2 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 13 times a game to Boston's 10. Call it Boston 113, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/17 vs TOR 129-89 — PHX notes
PHX won 129-89. PHX shot 51% (47 of 92) to TOR's 36%, 20 of 39 from three, and got to the line 15 times to TOR's 23. The glass went 54-40 for them. Booker led with 27 (8 of 15, 3 of 6 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Dunn added 17, Jones 15. The hinge was Q2, 39-11: PHX came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 23, and the lead reached 40. Ighodaro was the night's best plus/minus at +39.
3/19 vs CHI 127-121 — PHX notes
PHX won 127-121. PHX shot 49% (47 of 96) to CHI's 54%, 15 of 40 from three, and went to the line 20 times to CHI's 12 — 18 points from the stripe to their 8. Booker led with 41 (14 of 26, 6 of 12 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Durant added 26, Richards 18. The hinge was Q1, 31-22: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
3/21 vs CLE 123-112 — PHX notes
PHX won 123-112. PHX shot 52% (48 of 92) to CLE's 45%, 19 of 42 from three, and got to the line 8 times to CLE's 14. Durant led with 42 (17 of 29, 4 of 9 from three); Booker added 17, Jones 16. The hinge was Q2, 27-17: a lead of 1 became 11, and the lead reached 21. Ighodaro was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/24 vs MIL 108-106 — PHX notes
PHX won 108-106. PHX shot 48% (39 of 82) to MIL's 45%, 14 of 36 from three, and got to the line 18 times to MIL's 29. PHX turned it over 16 times to MIL's 7, and MIL turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 52-36 for them. Durant led with 38 (11 of 21, 7 of 9 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Booker added 19, Dunn 12. The hinge was Q3, 27-20: PHX came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 3. PHX trailed 54-58 at the half and won the second half 54-48. Booker was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
3/26 vs BOS 102-132 — PHX notes
PHX lost 102-132. PHX shot 41% (36 of 87) to BOS's 51%, 13 of 41 from three. The glass went 38-48 against them. Durant led with 30 (11 of 16, 3 of 4 from three); Booker added 14, Richards 10. Q4 was theirs, 21-24, but the other 3 periods went 108-81 against them. Booker's -33 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/28 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Randle at 15 a game. 3 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 16 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Beal (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the line, where Minnesota takes 26 free throws a game to Phoenix's 16 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-6 a night and Minnesota minus-1. Call it Minnesota 117, Phoenix 112.
3/30 vs HOU — 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 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Durant at 32 and Booker at 20 a game. Without Beal (6 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Whitmore (7 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 27 free throws a game to Phoenix's 16 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and Phoenix plus-1. Call it Houston 114, Phoenix 113, Phoenix keeping it close.
4/01 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 31 and Kuzma at 17 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Lillard (6 straight), Portis (21 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 15 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Booker at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Beal (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been minus-1 a night and Milwaukee minus-9 and the line, where Milwaukee takes 25 free throws a game to Phoenix's 15. Call it Milwaukee 118, Phoenix 114, Phoenix keeping it close.
4/04 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 24 and Porziņģis at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 129, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Beal (8 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 107 a night to Phoenix's 129 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Phoenix minus-1. Call it Boston 121, Phoenix 109, Boston by 12.
3/18 vs BKN 104-96 — BOS notes
BOS won 104-96. BOS shot 44% (35 of 79) to BKN's 41%, 16 of 48 from three. BOS turned it over 13 times to BKN's 8, and BKN turned those into 9 steals. Porziņģis led with 25 (9 of 13, 1 of 4 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Scheierman added 20, White 18. The hinge was Q4, 33-26: a lead of 1 became 8. BOS trailed 44-49 at the half and won the second half 60-47. Horford was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/21 @ UTA 121-99 — BOS notes
BOS won 121-99. BOS shot 46% (45 of 97) to UTA's 45%, 17 of 51 from three. BOS turned it over 10 times to UTA's 17. The glass went 48-38 for them. Porziņģis led with 27 (9 of 15, 3 of 5 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Tatum added 26, Pritchard 18. The hinge was Q1, 35-21: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Kornet was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/23 @ POR 129-116 — BOS notes
BOS won 129-116. BOS shot 55% (48 of 88) to POR's 49%, 23 of 50 from three. Tatum led with 30 (11 of 24, 1 of 7 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Hauser added 24, White 17. The hinge was Q1, 34-24: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/24 @ SAC 113-95 — BOS notes
BOS won 113-95. BOS shot 46% (41 of 90) to SAC's 45%, 19 of 50 from three, and went to the line 20 times to SAC's 11 — 12 points from the stripe to their 9. Tatum led with 25 (8 of 15, 5 of 9 from three, 4 of 8 at the line); Pritchard added 22, Porziņģis 16. The hinge was Q4, 25-17: a lead of 10 became 18, and the lead reached 22. Pritchard was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/26 @ PHX 132-102 — BOS notes
BOS won 132-102. BOS shot 51% (45 of 89) to PHX's 41%, 22 of 52 from three. The glass went 48-38 for them. Porziņģis led with 30 (10 of 15, 4 of 5 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Brown added 24, White 16. The hinge was Q2, 31-16: a lead of 4 became 19, and the lead reached 34. White was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
3/29 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Vassell at 21 and Castle at 19 a game. One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 102, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 102 a night to San Antonio's 112 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and San Antonio plus-0. Call it Boston 115, San Antonio 111, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/31 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 21 and Bane at 17 a game. Without Jackson (6 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Porziņģis at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 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 Memphis's 121 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-8 a night and Memphis minus-3. Call it Boston 118, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
4/02 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 105, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Miami comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 98, shooting 53 percent and 47 from three, 18 free throws a game; Herro at 28 and Wiggins at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Wiggins (2 straight), Jović (20 straight), Robinson (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Miami at 47 percent from three to Boston's 38 and the defense, Miami allowing 98 a night to Boston's 105. Call it Boston 113, Miami 109, Miami keeping it close.
4/04 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 24 and Porziņģis at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 129, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Beal (8 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 107 a night to Phoenix's 129 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Phoenix minus-1. Call it Boston 121, Phoenix 109, Boston by 12.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAH A. Horford
BS B. Scheierman
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
JW J. Walsh
KP K. Porziņģis
LK L. Kornet
NQ N. Queta
PP P. Pritchard
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
TC T. Craig
PHXBB B. Bol
CG C. Gillespie
CM C. Martin
DB D. Booker
DL D. Lee
GA G. Allen
KD K. Durant
MM M. Morris
MP M. Plumlee
NR N. Richards
OI O. Ighodaro
RD R. Dunn
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
VM V. Micić
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
PHOENIX -- — Kristaps Porzingis scored 30 points, Jaylen Brown added 24 and the Boston Celtics blew past the Phoenix Suns 132-102 on Wednesday night for their seventh straight victory.
The Suns had a four-game winning streak snapped. Phoenix still has possession of the final spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament with nine regular-season games remaining.
Boston took control late in the second quarter, using a 27-6 run to take a 73-54 lead into halftime. The Celtics — playing without injured star Jayson Tatum — hit 10 3-pointers in the first quarter.
Porzingis shot 10 of 15 from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Al Horford , Jrue Holiday and Derrick White all added 16 points.
Kevin Durant led Phoenix with 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting. Devin Booker added 14 points and 10 assists.
Tatum missed the game with a sprained left ankle, an injury he suffered Monday against the Kings. Coach Joe Mazzulla is hopeful Tatum won't be out much longer.
The Suns were playing without Bradley Beal , who is out with a strained left hamstring.
Takeaways Celtics: Boston has bulldozed through its past four games, winning all of them by double figures. The Celtics led by 34 points at one point in the third quarter of Wednesday's game and took a 27-point lead into the fourth.
Suns: Phoenix has been playing better defense of late, but couldn't contain Boston's 3-point shooting attack. The Suns have a very difficult schedule over the final few weeks — including another game against the Celtics — making their road to the play-in tournament a treacherous one.
Key moment The Celtics hit seven of their first nine 3-pointers, jumping to a 21-9 lead in a little more than four minutes. They never trailed.
Key stat The 30-point margin was the Suns' second-most lopsided loss of the season.
Up next The Celtics play at the Spurs on Saturday. The Suns play at the Timberwolves on Friday.