The defending champion Boston Celtics didn’t miss a beat without six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum in the lineup. The shot their way to a 132-102 road victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. The 30-point margin was Phoenix’s second most lopsided loss of the season.
Once again, it was the three ball that separated the Celtics from their opponent. As each member of the starting lineup converted at least one three-pointer by the game’s third minute. In total, Boston outshot Phoenix 22-13 from beyond the arc on its way to its seventh-straight victory.
Leading the way offensively for the Celtics was center Kristaps Porzingis, who matched Phoenix’s Kevin Durant with a game-high 30 points. The 7-foot, 4-inch Latvian hit four three-pointers in the contest — including each of the first three he attempted — and also pulled down eight rebounds in what was his fifth game back from a severe respiratory illness.
“He’s been great,” Jaylen Brown said of Porzingis after the game. “He’s been balling, been playing well, shooting the ball well, making the right plays, been big time. We going to need him this year in the playoffs. Keeping him healthy is the key.”
Brown, in his own right, had a big game in just his second game back from a knee injury. The four-time All-Star also provided a major boost offensively with Tatum sidelined, finishing with 24 points, five assists, and three rebounds. He was also one of three players to hit four three-pointers for the Celtics.
“He’s just a guy that — whatever he has to do to put himself in the best chance to be his best for us, to help us win, he does,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said of Brown. “For a couple games, it was taking care of his knee, and now it’s doing what he needs to do.”
Derrick White (seven assists, four rebounds), Jrue Holiday (three assists), and AL Horford (10 rebounds, five assists) each added 16 points for Boston, while Sam Hauser led the way off the bench with 11 points.
The Celtics were playing without Tatum, who rolled his ankle in Boston’s win over Sacramento on Monday. The six-time All-Star had been listed as questionable on the team’s initial injury report and did participate in shootaround, but was ultimately ruled out prior to tipoff.
Absences from the lineup are rare for Tatum, who prides himself in his ability to play on a nightly basis.
“Even when the medical staff wants him to rest, he always pushes to play,” Porzingis said of Tatum. “So, for sure, I think fans need to appreciate that. He never wants to miss a game. He understands people play a lot of money to come watch the Celtics play, and especially him.”
Boston’s seventh-straight win matches its longest win streak of the regular season and comes amid a six-game road trip that is also the longest of the season. The Celtics have had no trouble on the road of late, winning 13 of their last 14 contests away from the TD Garden.
Up next for Mazzulla’s squad is a 31-40 San Antonio Spurs team on Saturday night. The Spurs have won three of their last four, and are slated to take on the Eastern Conference leading-Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.
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