BOSTON — In a thrilling matchup on April 4, 2025, the Boston Celtics showcased their dominance by defeating the Phoenix Suns 123-103 at TD Garden, despite the absence of superstar Kevin Durant. The Suns, led by an impressive performance from Devin Booker, struggled to keep pace with the defending champions, who had six players scoring in double figures.
Devin Booker, the standout for Phoenix, poured in 37 points, alongside five rebounds and six assists in 38 minutes of play. However, he was left without sufficient support, as the next highest scorers for the Suns, Royce O’Neale, Oso Ighodaro, and Tyus Jones, each contributed just 12 points. Bradley Beal, making his return from an eight-game injury absence, had a tough night, finishing with only one point on 0-of-7 shooting in 30 minutes.
On the other hand, the Celtics were led by Jaylen Brown, who scored 31 points on an efficient 10-of-16 shooting. Brown’s performance was crucial as the Celtics broke the record for the most three-pointers in a single season, surpassing the 2022-23 Golden State Warriors. The Celtics shot 11-of-27 from beyond the arc, while the Suns managed only 7-of-26.
The game started with the Celtics taking an early lead, ending the first quarter up 31-22. Devin Booker attempted to keep the Suns competitive, scoring 10 points and dishing out three assists in the first quarter. Oso Ighodaro, who stepped into the starting lineup in place of Nick Richards, contributed four points.
As the second quarter unfolded, the Suns began to claw back into the game, with Booker’s aggression and contributions from the bench players reducing the Celtics' lead to 60-47 by halftime. Booker finished the first half with 16 points and four assists, while Ighodaro added 10 points and four rebounds. The Celtics maintained their lead with three players in double figures at halftime: Brown (17 points), Kristaps Porzingis (14 points), and Jayson Tatum (12 points, five rebounds, and four assists).
In the third quarter, Booker continued his scoring spree, netting 14 of his game-high 30 points, but he remained the only Sun to score more than three points in that period. The Celtics, led by Brown’s 27 points through three quarters, held a commanding 90-75 lead heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter saw the Suns unable to mount a comeback as the Celtics maintained control of the game. With just under five minutes remaining, Boston led 107-89. During this period, Kristaps Porzingis suffered an injury after taking an elbow to the nose from Suns forward Caleb Martin. The 7-foot-2 center left the game with a bloodied face but was seen smiling as he exited to receive stitches, later being deemed questionable to return.
Porzingis finished the game with 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting, along with four rebounds, one assist, and a block in 23 minutes. Meanwhile, Luke Kornet and Al Horford stepped up in Porzingis’ absence, contributing 10 and seven points, respectively. Kornet shot 4-of-6 from the field and grabbed four rebounds, while Horford added three rebounds and two assists.
Despite the loss, the Suns remain in the hunt for a play-in tournament spot in the Western Conference, currently sitting at 35-42, two games behind the Sacramento Kings (37-40). With the playoffs approaching, the Suns will need to regroup quickly as they face the New York Knicks next on Sunday to wrap up their road trip.
Coach Mike Budenholzer expressed optimism regarding Kevin Durant, who missed his second consecutive game due to a left ankle sprain, stating that Durant is “progressing” but has yet to resume on-court activities. Meanwhile, Brown, who was previously listed as questionable due to a right knee posterior impingement, played a crucial role in the Celtics’ victory, showing no signs of limitation.
As the regular season winds down, the Celtics are solidifying their position as contenders, demonstrating depth and resilience even in the face of injuries. With a full roster available and a potent offense, they are well-positioned to defend their title in the upcoming playoffs.
