After hitting what could be called a minor rough patch, the Boston Celtics, led by dynamic duo Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, clinched a victory against the Phoenix Suns with the final tally showing 117-107, effectively snapping a two-game losing streak, as the leader of the NBA pack, they've upped their record to an impressive 49-14, Tatum himself racked up 29 points while Brown chipped in with 27 points in this rebound performance on Saturday night.
"We're not perfect. We try to be, we really do try, but we make mistakes. This is a tough league, the other teams are really good and have great players. It's all about how you respond," Tatum stated, sharing insights on the team's mindset after recent setbacks, reported by 12 News. The Celtics capitalized on a day off in Phoenix, with Tatum mentioning the team enjoyed some golf and desert sunshine, believing it helped them reset their game and shook off any lingering dust from previous defeats.
On the flip side, the Suns missed the presence of their All-Star player, Devin Booker, due to a sprained ankle, yet they managed a laudable fightback, largely due to Kevin Durant's season-best 45 points on 18-for-26 shooting, Bradley Beal chipped in with 25 points and the center Jusuf Nurkic marked a double-double with 11 points and rebounds, "I just wanted to be aggressive, play through anything," Durant fiercely declared, his statement obtained by State Journal.
Boston managed to keep a step ahead after halftime, never trailing in the second half, and while the Suns momentarily closed the gap in the third quarter a swift response came from the Celtics, with Jrue Holiday sinking a three to widen the margin again, the Celtics' bench also came through in spades with Luke Kornet and Payton Pritchard providing a much-needed jolt, Pritchard particularly was highlighted by Boston coach Joe Mazzulla for changing the game with his defense, according to reports by 12 News.
Missing their own starter, Kristaps Porzingis due to a tight hamstring, the Celtics demonstrated their depth and tenacity sans a key player, meanwhile, Booker has been sighted back on the practice floor as fans await his return to play. Suns coach Frank Vogel expressed his pride in the team's hard-fought performance yet noted they needed more urgency early on against a team of Boston's caliber, with the challenge now being to secure a solid spot in the Western Conference and avoid the play-in tournament, discussing their current standing and the competitive nature of the game in a statement obtained by State Journal.
