The Boston Celtics have managed to elevate their play to a level slightly better than their playoff-bound foes lately.
And sadly, we saw them play just a little bit better than the Phoenix Suns, the worst team in the NBA.
It was not pretty, but Boston managed to pull away in the second half for a 102-94 win.
Boston (51-23) has won four in a row and each of the three games on its current West coast trip.
The Celtics and can close the trip out with a perfect 4-0 road trip against Utah on Wednesday.
But this win was a bittersweet one for Boston with Marcus Morris leaving at the end of the third quarter with a right ankle sprain and was unable to return but not before scoring 20 points.
Boston’s Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 23 points and six rebounds. Meanwhile the Suns (19-56) got a team-high 23 points from Josh Jackson while Tyler Ulis had 19 points off the Phoenix bench.
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Like Boston’s win at Sacramento the previous night, the Celtics allowed an inferior opponent gain confidence going into the half.
And just like Celtics head coach Brad Stevens had a straight-no-chaser message for his players at halftime against the Kings on Sunday night, a similar sermon was delivered on Monday against the Suns.
Boston wasn’t playing smarter or harder for long stretches, something they have done consistently all season regardless of who the opponent may be.
But the Celtics looked sluggish and out of sorts most of the first half, only to find their stride in the third quarter.
Stevens called a time-out just two minutes into the third quarter and implored his team to “play the right way.”
But the Suns were back in the game and soon took a brief 3-point lead after a Troy Daniels 3-pointer, only for Al Horford to respond on the ensuing possession to tie the game at 53.
For the game, Horford had a near double-double of 19 points and nine rebounds along with seven assists.
The two continued to go back and forth before the quarter ended with the Celtics going on a late surge to lead 77-65 going into the fourth quarter.
No matter what the Celtics players say, you get the feeling that there was some element of them playing the Suns’ record and not the players.
For Phoenix, this has been March Sadness with the Suns losing every game this month (0-12 now) which has been a big factor in the Suns having the worst record in the NBA.