Celtics guard Derrick White (No 9) scored a team-high 22 points on 9-for-18 shooting in a 97-81 victory over Grayson Allen and the host Suns Tuesday night in Phoenix.
Celtics guard Derrick White (No 9) scored a team-high 22 points on 9-for-18 shooting in a 97-81 victory over Grayson Allen and the host Suns Tuesday night in Phoenix.Rick Scuteri/Associated Press
PHOENIX — Jaylen Brown’s MVP candidacy took a well-earned pause when the forward missed Tuesday’s game against the Suns, the start of a back-to-back set, to rest.
And for much of the first half, Boston appeared lost without its centerpiece, as the Suns pushed out to a double-digit lead. But the deficit, like many others during this recent run, proved temporary.
The Celtics stayed afloat during a cold shooting stretch by gobbling up offensive rebounds and taking care of the ball. When the third quarter arrived, shots started falling and Boston’s relentless defense held the Suns to just 11 points, sparking this 97-81 win, its ninth in 10 games. It was the second consecutive win in which Boston held its opponent below 90 points.
Derrick White had 22 points to lead the Celtics and Neemias Queta added 14 points and 13 rebounds.
The Suns, who were without leading scorers Devin Booker (hip) and Dillon Brooks (hand), shot just 36.7 percent from the field and were outrebounded, 61-34.
With Brown out, Mazzulla opted to maintain his primary rotations, with Payton Pritchard coming off the bench and two-way contract player Ron Harper Jr. getting the spot start.
The Celtics drilled two 3-pointers in the opening minute, but that was not a harbinger. They followed that quick start by making just two of their next 20.
The Suns capitalized on the start of that cold streak by going on a 12-2 run. But the Celtics’ offensive rebounding helped stabilize them, ensuring the grisly shooting did not lead to a massive deficit.
The Celtics gobbled up rebounds on nine of their 19 first-quarter misses. Even though they struggled to convert, with just four second-chance points, those extra efforts and a low number of turnovers kept the Suns from getting easy transition baskets. Phoenix led, 26-21, after one quarter.
The Celtics did not attempt a free throw in the opening period but drew four fouls in the first two minutes of the second. That was a catalyst for six second-quarter free throws, as well as an opportunity to find more openings against a compromised Suns defense.
After the Suns took a 41-30 lead, their largest of the half, on a deep Royce O’Neale 3-pointer from the left arc, the Celtics found the surge they had been pushing toward.
White, who poured in 18 first-half points, hit a pair of 3-pointers to help ignite a loud 14-0 Celtics run that included dunks by Queta and Jordan Walsh. The Celtics took a 50-46 lead to the break despite shooting just 6 of 24 from the arc. Boston had just two first-half turnovers, neutralizing the bad shooting.
Split two defenders for the SLAM 💥 pic.twitter.com/rHrzepZa3p
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 25, 2026
Then the third quarter began and the shots started falling for the Celtics, leaving the Suns with no chance. Queta, who was a valuable presence at both ends, displayed nifty footwork before hitting a hook shot to highlight an 11-2 burst to start the period.
Big fella's gotta eat 😤 pic.twitter.com/0b64LBLW75
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 25, 2026
Then Sam Hauser (16 points) hit back-to-back 3-pointers and pulled up for a baseline jumper when the Suns tried to stop him from hitting a third, making it 69-52. That broke the dam, with Boston’s suffocating defense shrinking the Suns’ opportunities at every turn.
When the dust settled, the Celtics had outscored the Suns 30-11 in the quarter, holding their hosts to 4 of 22 shooting, to take an 80-57 lead to the fourth.
The Suns made one more push by starting the final quarter with a 9-0 burst while the Celtics were held scoreless for more than four minutes. But their massive third quarter gave them enough margin for error.
With 5:57 left, Queta swallowed up a Ryan Dunn dunk attempt, and Baylor Scheierman finished off the play with a 3-pointer from the right corner to push the lead back to 90-68.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.