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The Boston Celtics bounced back from a two-game losing streak by defeating Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns 117-107 on Saturday evening.
Jayson Tatum (29 points) and Jaylen Brown (27 points) led the Celtic charge against the Suns and Durant, who dominated with 45 points on 18-of-26 shooting, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Al Horford, who started in place of an injured Kristaps Porziņģis (right hamstring tightness), chipped in nine points and 12 boards. His clutch three-pointer with 1:54 left broke a two-minute scoreless spell for both teams and gave the C’s a 110-102 edge.
Four other Celtics scored 10 or more points, led by Jrue Holiday’s 15.
Boston led 62-50 at half, but the Durant-led Suns stormed back and trailed by just three (77-74) late in the third quarter. That’s as close as the team would get for the remainder of the game, though, as the Celtics’ star power and depth proved to be too much for a Suns team missing Devin Booker (right ankle sprain).
And with that, the C’s improved to an NBA-best 49-14 mark after suffering tough back-to-back losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers (105-104) and the Denver Nuggets (115-109), marking just the second time the team had lost consecutive games this year and first since November.
Ultimately, the Celtics’ win was largely thanks to the production of Tatum and Brown.
Tatum overcame a rough start and played the entire second half, scoring 22 points en route to his 29 with 10 rebounds and seven dimes, although he wasn’t happy with his outing, telling ESPN’s Lisa Saunders he was grateful for his teammates because he “stunk it up tonight.”
One of those teammates was Brown, who carried the offense in the first half (18 points). Both were praised postgame.
Mike H. @xmike87
What a good win for the @celtics against a good Western Conference team. Tatum finally showed up in the 4th quarter.
Rogan ☘️ @DJMamba_1984
I like that Tatum was aggressive tonight and trying to score. He didn’t even have many bad shots. It’s a slump, all players have em. At the end of the day he’s our franchise guy and our only goal at the end of the day is ring 18.
Bula @Sniperbula33
Good win Tatum went back to doing some tatum things and KD still ridiculous as a basketball player onto Portland now lol
Muhammad Saeed @saeedmalik91
🔥 Tatum and the Celtics showing their mettle on the road! A hard-fought victory against a tough Phoenix team. Exciting game till the end! #BOSvsPHX
Gery Woelfel @GeryWoelfel
Jayson Tatum didn’t get the memo that his MVP chances are over:
29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in Celtics’ win over the Suns.
kc☘️(48-14) @celticsfolife
Jaylen Brown pick and roll ball handilng pic.twitter.com/VRIqLnVZvC
Jake Issenberg @jakeissenberg
The focus is going to be on Tatum having a bad *three* game stretch. Meanwhile Jaylen Brown is playing some unreal basketball. Seems important.
Malik Threesly @MalikThr33sly
Ngl jaylen brown is the #1 option on the Celtics 💀 pic.twitter.com/R2L0c7mA3x
Boston will finish its five-game road trip with games at the Utah Jazz on Monday and Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
