Game ID: 22500839
Boston Celtics @ Phoenix Suns
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 26 20 11 24 81BOS 21 29 30 17 97
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 2/11 · back-to-backOUT Allen missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Fleming missed 4 since 2/03, returns tonight: 20 min (168% of 12)
BACK Booker back 2/07 after 7, 32 min since (96% of 34)
BACK Green back 2/07 after 3, 19 min since (68% of 27)
PHX availability going into 2/19 · 7 days' restOUT Allen missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Booker back 2/07 after 7, 32 min since (96% of 34)
BACK Green back 2/07 after 3, 19 min since (68% of 27)
BACK Fleming back 2/11 after 4, 20 min since (168% of 12)
PHX availability going into 2/21 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 4 since 2/07, returns tonight: 33 min (117% of 28)
BACK Booker back 2/07 after 7, 24 min since (72% of 34)
BACK Green back 2/07 after 3, 21 min since (78% of 27)
BACK Fleming back 2/11 after 4, 16 min since (135% of 12)
NEW Goodwin 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Bouyea 13 to 18 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 2/22 · back-to-backBACK Booker back 2/07 after 7, 24 min since (72% of 34)
BACK Allen back 2/21 after 4, 33 min since (117% of 28)
BACK Green back 2/07 after 3, 25 min since (92% of 27)
BACK Fleming back 2/11 after 4, 16 min since (135% of 12)
PHX availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 2 since 2/21, out tonight
BACK Allen back 2/21 after 4, 33 min since (117% of 28)
BACK Fleming back 2/11 after 4, 18 min since (152% of 12)
NEW Coffey 12 to 17 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 3 since 2/21, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Allen back 2/21 after 4, 29 min since (101% of 28)
BACK Fleming back 2/11 after 4, 19 min since (158% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Coffey 12 to 19 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 3/03 · 4 days' restOUT Booker missed 4 since 2/21, returns tonight: 31 min (92% of 34)
OUT Brooks missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Allen back 2/21 after 4, 29 min since (104% of 28)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Fleming 12 to 19 min over the last 4
NEW Coffey 12 to 19 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks missed 4 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 4 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/03 after 4, 31 min since (92% of 34)
BACK Allen back 2/21 after 4, 28 min since (100% of 28)
NEW Gillespie 28 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Dunn 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Fleming 12 to 20 min over the last 4
NEW Coffey 12 to 19 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Brooks missed 5 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 5 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Bouyea missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Highsmith missed 2 since 3/03, returns tonight: 0 min (0% of 11)
BACK Booker back 3/03 after 4, 32 min since (93% of 34)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Fleming 12 to 18 min over the last 5
NEW Coffey 12 to 19 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restBACK Boucher back 1/30 after 30, 4 min since (33% of 10)
BOS availability going into 2/11 · 2 days' rest
full strength
BOS availability going into 2/19 · 7 days' restNEW Vučević 20 to 26 min over the last 3
NEW Scheierman 18 to 25 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 2/22 · 2 days' restNEW Vučević 20 to 26 min over the last 4
NEW Scheierman 18 to 24 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restNEW Scheierman 18 to 25 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 2/25 · back-to-backNEW Scheierman 18 to 28 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restNEW Scheierman 18 to 27 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restNEW Scheierman 18 to 26 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/02 · back-to-backNEW Scheierman 18 to 28 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 114, shooting 40 percent and 30 from three, 12 free throws a game; Brooks at 17 and Green at 17 a game. Without Booker (2 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 102, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 27 and Pritchard at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 102 a night to Phoenix's 114 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Phoenix plus-3. Call it Boston 111, Phoenix 108, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/11 vs OKC 109-136 — PHX notes
PHX lost 109-136. PHX shot 47% (43 of 92) to OKC's 58%, 15 of 42 from three, and got to the line 13 times to OKC's 19. Brooks led with 23 (9 of 19, 1 of 5 from three); Goodwin added 12, O'Neale 12. Q4 was theirs, 29-24, the deficit cut from 32 to 27, but the other 3 periods went 112-80 against them. Goodwin's -32 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/19 @ SAS 94-121 — PHX notes
PHX lost 94-121. PHX took 18 more shots (105 to 87), fed by 19 offensive rebounds, but shot 37% to SAS's 52%, 12 of 42 from three, and got to the line 6 times to SAS's 20. Green led with 26 (11 of 23, 4 of 9 from three); Williams added 11, Goodwin 10. Q4 was theirs, 23-23, but the other 3 periods went 98-71 against them. Goodwin's -27 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/21 vs ORL 113-110 — PHX notes
PHX won 113-110 in 2 overtimes. PHX shot 34% (40 of 117) to ORL's 43%, 16 of 55 from three. PHX turned it over 8 times to ORL's 16. The glass went 65-53 for them. Allen led with 27 (8 of 22, 4 of 14 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Gillespie added 19, Goodwin 17. The hinge was Q3, 34-22: PHX came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 4. PHX trailed 43-51 at the half and won the second half 70-59.
2/22 vs POR 77-92 — PHX notes
PHX lost 77-92. PHX shot 36% (31 of 85) to POR's 47%, 9 of 35 from three. Gillespie led with 18 (7 of 14, 4 of 8 from three); Green added 13. Q1 was theirs, 20-20, but the other 3 periods went 72-57 against them. Dunn's -18 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/24 vs BOS 81-97 — PHX notes
PHX lost 81-97. PHX shot 37% (29 of 79) to BOS's 40%, 12 of 36 from three. The glass went 34-61 against them. Gillespie led with 15 (6 of 11, 3 of 6 from three); Allen added 14, Green 13. Q4 was theirs, 24-17, the deficit cut from 23 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 80-57 against them. They led by as many as 11. Green's -33 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/26 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 95 a night and allowing 111, shooting 38 percent and 30 from three, 12 free throws a game; Green at 17 and Gillespie at 13 a game. Without Booker (3 straight), Brooks (2 straight), Goodwin (2 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and James at 20 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 22 free throws a game to Phoenix's 12 and the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Phoenix's 30. Call it Phoenix 112, the Lakers 111, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/03 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 28 from three, 22 free throws a game; Westbrook at 17 and Achiuwa at 16 a game. Without Murray (2 straight), LaVine (9 straight), Hunter (9 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 96 a night and allowing 106, shooting 38 percent and 33 from three, 13 free throws a game; Allen at 23 and Gillespie at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Booker (4 straight), Brooks (3 straight), Goodwin (3 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 106 a night to Sacramento's 126 and the line, where Sacramento takes 22 free throws a game to Phoenix's 13. Call it Sacramento 113, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/05 vs CHI — 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 100 a night and allowing 102, shooting 40 percent and 35 from three, 15 free throws a game; Allen at 22 and Gillespie at 18 a game. Without Brooks (4 straight), Goodwin (4 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Buzelis at 20 and Sexton at 14 a game. Without Simons (5 straight), Smith (4 straight), Williams (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 102 a night to Chicago's 114 and the turnovers, Chicago giving it away 19 times a game to Phoenix's 13. Call it Phoenix 113, Chicago 108.
3/06 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 101, shooting 41 percent and 35 from three, 15 free throws a game; Allen at 20 and Gillespie at 15 a game. Without Brooks (5 straight), Goodwin (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Bey at 24 and Murphy III at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Poole (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 101 a night to New Orleans's 119 and the line, where New Orleans takes 26 free throws a game to Phoenix's 15. Call it Phoenix 113, New Orleans 111, New Orleans keeping it close.
2/08 vs NYK 89-111 — BOS notes
BOS lost 89-111. BOS took 9 more shots (92 to 83), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 37% to NYK's 48%, 7 of 41 from three, and got to the line 15 times to NYK's 24. Brown led with 26 (11 of 25, 0 of 4 from three); White added 19, Vučević 11. Q2 was theirs, 29-25, the deficit cut from 11 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 86-60 against them. Pritchard's -27 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/11 vs CHI 124-105 — BOS notes
BOS won 124-105. BOS shot 52% (49 of 95) to CHI's 46%, 18 of 45 from three. The glass went 48-34 for them. Pritchard led with 26 (11 of 18, 3 of 8 from three); Brown added 24, Vučević 19. The hinge was Q2, 36-17: a lead of 9 became 28, and the lead reached 33. Vučević was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
2/19 @ GSW 121-110 — BOS notes
BOS won 121-110. BOS shot 52% (49 of 95) to GSW's 45%, 17 of 40 from three. BOS turned it over 13 times to GSW's 8, and GSW turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 54-40 for them. Pritchard led with 26 (10 of 18, 6 of 11 from three); Brown added 23, Hauser 16. The hinge was Q2, 38-19: a lead of 4 became 23, and the lead reached 34. Hauser was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/22 @ LAL 111-89 — BOS notes
BOS won 111-89. BOS shot 48% (40 of 83) to LAL's 39%, 14 of 36 from three. BOS turned it over 14 times to LAL's 8. The glass went 50-39 for them. Brown led with 32 (10 of 28, 3 of 9 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Pritchard added 30, White 12. The hinge was Q2, 32-22: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Pritchard was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/24 @ PHX 97-81 — BOS notes
BOS won 97-81. BOS shot 40% (38 of 95) to PHX's 37%, 13 of 47 from three. The glass went 61-34 for them. White led with 22 (9 of 18, 4 of 11 from three); Hauser added 16, Queta 14. The hinge was Q3, 30-11: a lead of 4 became 23, and the lead reached 28. Queta was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
2/25 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 32 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Watson (6 straight), Gordon (12 straight), Pickett (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 99, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 13 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and Pritchard at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 32 free throws a game to Boston's 13 and the defense, Boston allowing 99 a night to Denver's 116. Call it Denver 115, Boston 112, Boston keeping it close.
2/27 vs BKN — 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 107 a night and allowing 98, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 14 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and Pritchard at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 116, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 21 and Claxton at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Saraf (5 straight), Johnson (22 straight), Etienne (36 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-12 a night and Brooklyn minus-10 and the defense, Boston allowing 98 a night to Brooklyn's 116. Call it Boston 115, Brooklyn 101, Boston by 14.
3/01 vs PHI — 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 112 a night and allowing 99, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and Pritchard at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Maxey at 31 and Edgecombe at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without George (12 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-12 a night and Philadelphia plus-0 and the defense, Boston allowing 99 a night to Philadelphia's 116. Call it Boston 116, Philadelphia 110.
3/02 @ 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 107 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 19 and Rollins at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Gia. Antetokounmpo (15 straight), Prince (51 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 96, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brown at 28 and White at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 14 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-14 a night and Milwaukee minus-5 and the defense, Boston allowing 96 a night to Milwaukee's 120. Call it Boston 114, Milwaukee 107.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXAC A. Coffey
CG C. Gillespie
GA G. Allen
JB J. Bouyea
JG J. Green
KB K. Brea
KM K. Maluach
MW M. Williams
OI O. Ighodaro
RD R. Dunn
RF R. Fleming
RO R. O'Neale
BOSBS B. Scheierman
DW D. White
HG H. González
JT J. Tonje
JW J. Walsh
LG L. Garza
NQ N. Queta
NV N. Vučević
PP P. Pritchard
RH R. Harper Jr.
SH S. Hauser
VU Vucevic
PHX/BOS 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
Derrick White scores 22, and a third-quarter blitz lifts the Celtics past the Suns 97-81
PHOENIX -- — Derrick White scored 22 points, Neemias Queta had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics used a big third quarter to beat the Phoenix Suns 97-81 on Tuesday night.
Sam Hauser shot 6 for 14, including 4 for 10 from 3-point range, to add 16 points and the Celtics — playing without All-Star Jaylen Brown (right knee contusion) — won their fourth in a row and for the ninth time in their last 10 games.
Baylor Scheierman had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Collin Gillespie had 15 points and Grayson Allen scored 14 as the Suns lost for the fourth time in their last five games. The Suns played without their top two scorers, Devin Booker (right hip strain) and Dillon Brooks (left hand fracture), who combined average nearly 46 points per game.
The Celtics led 50-46 at halftime but took control by outscoring the Suns 30-11 in the third quarter, including a 16-0 run.
The Celtics also held a huge advantage on the boards, outrebounding the Suns by 27, 61 to 34.
Up next Celtics: At Denver on Wednesday night.
Suns: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .