Who: Phoenix Suns (35-37) vs. Boston Celtics (53-19)
When: 7:00pm Arizona Time
Where: PHX Arena — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: ESPN / Arizona’s Family 3TV / Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7 / S: KSUNESPN RadioESPN Radio/SiriusXM
Feeling good? The Suns sure are, riding a four-game winning streak that’s giving fans plenty of reasons to smile. They’ve been sharp during this stretch, shooting 43.3% from deep while dishing out 31.5 assists on 45.3 made shots. Their offensive rating sits at a scorching 126.5, with a defensive rating of 112.0, good for a +14.5 net rating—the fourth-best in the NBA over the last four games. One of the only teams ahead of them in that timeframe? The defending champion Boston Celtics, who hold a +14.9 net rating, and are rolling into PHX Arena tonight.
Boston is a machine. Think the 2016 Warriors, but with even better three-point shooting (and volume) and a stronger defense. If you’re wondering why they aren’t atop the NBA standings, trailing Cleveland by five games, it’s because they’ve played the long game all season. They’ve strategically rested players to keep them fresh for when it really matters: the playoffs.
Tonight, however, it looks like they’ll be without Jayson Tatum. Not for rest, but after rolling his ankle against the Kings on Monday.
In today’s game, players get rewarded for flopping.
Yet every time a player jumps into Jayson Tatum’s landing space the refs refuse to do anything. Hope you’re proud of yourself @NBA.pic.twitter.com/hECqdSzEk4
— CelticsGlobe (@PlayoffCeltics) March 25, 2025
The Celtics are 5-1 this season when Jayson Tatum hasn’t played, so don’t expect them to roll over just because he’s out. Far from it. Payton Pritchard is leading the charge for Sixth Man of the Year, while Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porziņģis bring a mix of defense, playmaking, and scoring. And then there’s Al Horford, the wily veteran who will make you pay if you’re not locked in.
The Suns’ path to five straight wins won’t be easy. But at this point in the season, nothing will be. This is SNAFU—situation normal, all effed up.
Probable Starters
per Celtics Super Fan J. Scott
Injury Report
Suns
Bradley Beal — OUT (Left Hamstring)
Celtics
Jayson Tatum — DOUBTFUL (Left Ankle; Sprain)
Xavier Tillman— OUT (Left Knee; Joint Sprain)
Uniform Matchup
What to Watch For
Watch the ‘ole three-point line. The Suns are currently the second-best in shooting from deep, hitting 38.4% of their three-pointers. Boston? Right on their heels with 37.0% from deep, sixth-best in the NBA. But the Celtics chuck ‘em. 48.2 per night...tops in the league by 5.7 attempts per game (Chicago is second with 42.5). 53.6% of their attempts are three-pointers. That’s who Boston is. And while the Suns come in 9th in three-point rate, with 43.8% of their shots coming from beyond the arc, that will be the point of emphasis tonight.
That being said, despite the Celtics attempting the least amount of two-pointers per game (41.0), they are fourth-best in two-point field goal percentage (56.9%). In short? There is no easy way to defend this team.
Key to a Suns Win
Ride the wave.
What the Suns are doing right now is playing quality basketball on both ends of the floor. It is far from perfect, but it’s quality. They need to continue to do what they have been doing relative to disruption and intensity. The mental lapses are still occurring — just see “27 points off of turnovers for the Bucks” — but they aren’t happening for prolonged stretches of the game as they have throughout the first 65 games of the season.
So ride the wave of success. Ride the wave of attitude and effort. Hang ten, baby.
Prediction
Man, I’m not sure. Boston is filthy good. Filthy! So I give this one to them. I don’t want this streak to end. I’m enjoying every minute of it. But the Celts? They are the defending champs and can beat you in a plethora of ways. So tonight belongs to Boston.
Celtics 119, Suns 108
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