Final: Celtics 116, Suns 111

GAME: Game No. 24 of 82
WHO: Celtics (19-4) vs. Suns (8-15)
WHEN:  1:00 EST
WHERE:  TD Garden
RADIO: 100.7 FM WZLX
TV: NBC SPORTS BOSTON
BOX SCORE: NBA.COM

Projected starting lineups 

Celtics
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Aron Baynes

Suns
PG: Tyler Ulis 
SG: Devin Booker
F: T.J. Warren
F: Marquese Chriss 
C: Tyson Chandler

Third quarter notes (Celtics lead 89-79)

• Celtics start Daniel Theis in place of Aron Baynes to save Baynes to battle Greg Monroe off the bench.


• Suns offense continues to carve up the Celtics’ defense behind the hot shooting of Devin Booker. Brad Stevens tried to stop the bleeding early by subbing in Marcus Smart in for Daniel Theis, but it’s had no effect so far. Booker is punishing Boston from inside and out and Phoenix is mixing in some good passing as well.


• Kyrie Irving has really slowed down since his hot first quarter. He’s only made two baskets since then, taking just 10 attempts over the first 33 minutes of the game.


• Defensive rebounding is becoming more of a problem for the C’s in recent weeks. Suns aren’t just shooting well (55 percent through 3) but they’ve scored 10 second chance points off eight offensive rebounds.


• Big-time minutes by the all-bench unit at the close of the third quarter. They finished things out with an 11-2 run, behind steady defense and some opportunistic offense in transition to spread lead back out to 10.

• All bench lineup struggling again for the first five minutes of the quarter. Suns outscored them 15-9, with some nice ball movement that led to some open looks from the perimeter.


• If Marcus Morris is going to come off the bench, he’s going to get his shots up. He’s 2-of-6 from the field in 10 minutes.


• By going with this all bench lineup, Brad Stevens seems set on trying to get his deep bench some regular reps. Probably not a major issue in a game like this against the Suns (where the starters should regain control when they return) but still playing with fire to a degree.


• Devin Booker is back in the game and having his way in the pick-and-roll. His speed and touch are tough to keep up with.


• Stevens goes back to old starting for final four minutes of the quarter (Morris for Baynes). Calls timeout two possessions in after offensive set stalled and came back with Marcus Smart for Jayson Tatum.


• Booker really got going at the end of the quarter, finishing the half with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting. C’s have thrown a bunch of different defenders at him but haven’t managed to bother him much.


• C’s have managed to stay in front with some nice passing and stellar 3-point shooting of their own. They shot 59 percent from field and 57 percent from 3-point range in first half.

• Devin Booker hot early with a couple of 3-pointers. Jaylen Brown having a tough time chasing him around screens.


• Strong first defensive possession for the Suns, but C’s have been getting whatever they want since then.


• Kyrie Irving vs. Tyler Ulis is just unfair. Seven points in the first six minutes for Irving on a variety of shoots.


• Suns played good defense for the first couple of possessions but that was pretty much it.


• Celtics starting lineup with Baynes finishes with a plus-9 in seven minutes. The group shook off a slow start and stormed out to the double-digit lead behind a 9-0 run midway through the fourth quarter. Baynes continues to do nice work defending the rim, screening and protecting the glass.


• Devin Booker came up lame with a right thigh/knee injury midway through the first quarter.


• Greg Monroe came in off bench but the Celtics didn’t match up this time with Baynes on him.


• Pair of nice corner 3s for Jaylen Brown. He’s been on fire from that spot this year.


• Marcus Morris took advantage of Dragan Bender for a couple of isolations.

• Suns big man Alex Len is questionable to play with left ankle soreness. Look for Greg Monroe to get the starting nod in his place at center if he can't go.


• Phoenix had a memorable night in their last visit to the TD Garden when Devin Booker exploded for 70 points in a double-digit Suns loss. In embarrassing fashion, the Suns fouled intentionally at the end of the game in order to get Booker extra possessions so he had a shot at 70. Former coach Earl Watson defended the move after the game in hilarious fashion. "It's about letting our kids be great," Watson said about the late-game fouling tactics. "You got a problem with that? Do something. Simple as that."


• The Suns have lost four of five overall and are in the midst of a six-game road trip.


• Look for a lot of points to be scored today by the C's. The Suns play at the second-fastest pace in the NBA, but they also have the worst defense (on paper) in the NBA. Kyrie Irving should have a field day against the likes of Ulis and Booker.