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.
“Our defense kept us in the game,” center Neemias Queta said. “…Our offense settled down and we figured out a way to attack these guys, and from that point on it wasn’t the same.”
The Celtics have won nine of 10 games and have held their last two opponents below 90 points, the most shining examples of a defense that has been elite in recent weeks.
“I think we just have a standard, and then a lot of guys that can guard a lot of different positions,” Derrick White said. “And we’re doing a really good job of just following the game plan and committing to that. So, we’ve got to continue to execute. But yeah, we have been defending at a high level and that kind of helps us offensively as well.”
Late in the third quarter, two-way contract player Ron Harper Jr., who started in place of Brown, rushed upcourt and teamed up for a chase-down block with Baylor Scheierman, who briefly paused to slap his teammate five as the others ignited a fast-break.
Midway through the fourth, Suns wing Ryan Dunn went up for a dunk and had his attempt simultaneously turned away by Queta and White.
“That’s what we do,” Queta said, “protect the rim.”
The Suns shot just 36.7 percent from the field and were out-rebounded, 61-34.
Unlike Sunday, when Payton Pritchard guided Boston with an efficient and explosive scoring performance, the Celtics pushed back the Suns with balance. White had 22 points and Queta added 14 points and 13 rebounds, his second consecutive double-double.
Collin Gillespie had 15 points to lead the Suns, who were without leading scorers Devin Booker (hip) and Dillon Brooks (hand).
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. After the Suns took a 41-30 lead, their largest, on a deep Royce O’Neale 3-pointer, 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 Boston run that also 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.
“We’re all a little disappointed that we weren’t going into halftime with the lead,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said. “They turned up the pressure in the middle of the second, I would imagine. And we had a couple loose balls knocked out of our hands.”
Boston’s shots started falling in the third quarter, leaving Phoenix little 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.
Then Sam Hauser 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.
“I thought we were just very disciplined in the defensive game plan,” Mazzulla said. “We didn’t give up the easy stuff.”
Split two defenders for the SLAM 💥 pic.twitter.com/rHrzepZa3p
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 25, 2026
When the dust settled, the Celtics had outscored the Suns 30-11 in the quarter and held Phoenix to 4 of 22 shooting. Boston took 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 margin for error.
“I just think having a mindset of like, holding ourselves to a higher standard and knowing that we’re a really good team,” Hauser said. “We just have to believe it and go out and show it every single night.”
Big fella's gotta eat 😤 pic.twitter.com/0b64LBLW75
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 25, 2026
Their biggest test of this road trip will arrive Wednesday, when they face Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. But they will have a well-rested Brown, as well as brimming confidence.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.