Jaylen Brown and the Celtics had their hands full with the Suns throughout Monday's game at TD Garden.
Jaylen Brown and the Celtics had their hands full with the Suns throughout Monday's game at TD Garden.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
For years, MVP chants at TD Garden have been reserved for Celtics star Jayson Tatum, with Jaylen Brown stepping forward with his own explosive performances when needed.
But Tatum missed the first 62 games of this season following his Achilles injury last May, and Brown carried the Celtics toward the top of the Eastern Conference without him.
Although Tatum is back now, he is still finding his footing. But Brown’s relentlessness has remained unchanged.
On Monday night, serenaded by “MVP” chants throughout the second half, Brown steadied the Celtics after they lost their fourth-quarter lead against the Suns, and carried them through the tense final minutes, as Boston emerged with a gritty 120-112 win.
Brown had 41 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. He made a career-high 19 of 21 free throws. Derrick White and Tatum added 21 points apiece for Boston, which connected on 17 of 41 3-pointers.
Devin Booker, who missed last month’s game between these teams in Phoenix, poured in 40 points on 15-of-24 shooting for the Suns.
An Oso Ighodaro dunk with 5:30 left gave the Suns a 105-104 lead, their first since early in the second quarter.
Phoenix extended its advantage to as many as 4, but with 3:06 left Brown came up with a steal and fed Tatum for a layup that sliced the deficit to 111-110.
Brown then converted a putback after a Tatum miss to put Boston back on front. He added two free throws, and, after the Celtics forced a shot-clock violation, he scored inside with 1:00 left to extend the lead to 116-111.
Before the game White was honored for being named the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for February. Then he took the court and committed two uncharacteristic turnovers in the opening few possessions.
The Suns set the tone early on offense, with a loud one-handed slam by Jalen Green surrounded by four 3-pointers that staked them to a 20-13 lead.
Devin Booker (1) scores over the Celtics' Hugo Gonzalez during the first quarter Monday.
Devin Booker (1) scores over the Celtics' Hugo Gonzalez during the first quarter Monday.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
But the Celtics answered with a 10-0 burst, highlighted by a Baylor Scheierman 3-pointer followed by a steal and assist to Jaylen Brown for a layup.
The Celtics attempted 12 3-pointers in the first quarter and Brown added diversity to the attack by constantly pressuring the rim. The All-Star, who has griped about the lack of foul calls in his favor all season, attempted 10 free throws in the opening quarter alone.
The Suns opened the second period with a 32-31 lead, but White ensured it did not last. The guard drilled three 3-pointers over the first 96 seconds, a personal 9-0 run that flipped that small deficit into a 40-32 lead. White had 16 points in the period.
Midway through the quarter, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla experimented with a small-ball lineup that featured Tatum at center. The group has good spacing, leading to clean looks and driving lanes.
But Booker took advantage of the lack of rim protection. He went 5 for 5 from the field in the quarter, with every attempt coming inside the arc. He also added three free throws.
In the final minute, he scored inside before converting a thre-point play at the rim, helping the Suns withstand White’s explosion and bringing them within 65-61 at halftime.
The Celtics were 13 for 24 from the arc in the first half and registered assists on 18 of 21 field goals.
Tatum started to find a rhythm by attacking the basket early in the third quarter. He converted a pair of drives before putting back his own miss, and then his running layup with 6:54 left gave Boston an 80-73 lead.
But everything remains a work in progress for the superstar who was playing just his fifth game of the season. He followed that strong stint by airballing a 3-pointer, having a layup blocked, and throwing a pass out of bounds.
At the other end, Booker poured in 16 more points in the quarter. With White on the bench with four fouls, Payton Pritchard ensured that Booker’s continued surge would not be too damaging. Pritchard hit a pair of deep 3-pointers in the final two minutes, helping Boston to the fourth with a 91-86 lead.
Pritchard added another deep 3 with 10:19 left that gave the Celtics a 96-86 lead, the first double-digit advantage for either team. But the Suns did not crumble. A 3-pointer by Haywood Highsmith — making him 4 for 4 — pulled Phoenix within 102-101 with 6:53 left.
Jayson Tatum getting acclimated to NBA play again
The Celtics are being a bit cautious with Jayson Tatum’s game minutes, making sure he’s getting acclimated before the playoffs.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.