BSJ Game Report: Suns 106, Celtics 94 - Lackluster effort, cold shooting, too much to overcome

Everything you need to know about the Celtics loss to the Phoenix Suns, with BSJ insight and analysis

IN A NUTSHELL

Both teams came out freezing cold to start the game -- except for Jaylen Brown, who scored Boston’s first 10 points. The Suns missed their first nine shots but got hot after that and built a 20-point lead before the Celtics woke up in the second quarter to cut it to 9. The lead was 13 going into the half, but the Celtics sliced all but one point off that in the third quarter which featured a lot more attacking. The Suns immediately rebuilt that lead to start the fourth, and while Boston had plenty of chances, they couldn't hit the shots they needed.

Box Score 

HEADLINES

Poor overall effort: Aside from a brief stretch in the fourth, the Celtics played this game like a team expecting to walk out there and win. And to be honest, they really had plenty of chances to do just that, but they couldn't hit any of the shots they needed. With a chance to tie or take the lead in the third quarter, the Celtics missed three shots and turned it over twice. 

“I think we got a little anxious trying to force some plays where we just needed to be solid and just couldn't quite take that lead,” Al Horford said. “I felt like if we could've taken the lead, things would have changed, it would have been different. I just think that's what it was. We had some opportunities, turnovers, some bad shots. And then going into the fourth, we were in a good position there and they opened up the fourth with an 8-0 run I think and you just can't have that after fighting so much.”

Three point happy: They shot 10-38 overall from deep. They came out firing from 3 early without really penetrating. It really was the opposite of the Brooklyn game where they came in focused, penetrated first, then took 3-pointers off that. They were hoping to shoot their way to the win in this one and they could not hit a thing.

TURNING POINT 

After a third quarter where Boston had plenty of chances but still finished within a point, the Suns whipped off a 14-2 run to get their lead right back to 13 and force the Celtics to try to catch up the rest of the way. They could never get closer than 6. 

TWO UP 

Jaylen Brown: He ended up with a bad shooting night overall, but he carried the Celtics in the first quarter and was really the main reason why the Celtics had any chance in this game at all. He finished with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. 

Derrick White: He actually had a good shooting night (6-12 overall, 2-4 3pt). He was the most consistent Celtic on the floor. If some shots had fallen, he might have had more than 1 assist. 

THREE DOWN 

Jayson Tatum: He didn’t score until late in the second half, and he only hit 3 shots all night (3-15 fg, 3-10 3pt). He did get to the line 12 times and he did have 5 assists, so he did other things while his offense struggled, but he settled way too much for too long. He also somehow only finished with two turnovers, but it felt like he lost the ball a lot down the stretch. 

Robert Williams: He managed 7 rebounds, but none of them on the offensive glass. He was so critical to building that lead against Brooklyn with his putbacks. Not getting anything on the offensive glass was part of why the Celtics lost. He also had a couple of illegal screens that led to critical turnovers. 

Grant Williams: I don’t know if it’s the trade deadline or something else that is bothering him, but he doesn’t look like himself out there. The Celtics really needed a good contribution from him and they didn’t get it. 

TOP PLAYS

ONE TAKE KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- Tatum’s tech hurt more than you realize

Tatum’s technical foul at the end of the first half was sneakily important because Boston had cut a 20-point lead down to 9 with an 11-0 run, but his tech was part of a quick 4-0 answer to make it 13 at the half. 

And I know you might be thinking “how does he get a tech after everything LeBron James did the other night.” And while that might be fair in wondering why LeBron didn’t get one, refs interpret slamming the ball as a tech all the time. It’s happened to Tatum before, just like the hand wave has, but he continues to do the little things that trigger technical fouls. 

Instead of just coming back down and playing defense, getting another stop (because the Celtics were getting a bunch of them), and maybe cutting the lead down further, they made a mistake and lost Ish Wainwright in the corner. 

Considering how the third quarter went, imagine the Celtics going into the second half down only single digits. 

Each NBA game is full of butterfly effects. This is one that cost Boston points and might have exponentially cost them chances at a lead. 

Next Up: The Celtic hit the road for a quick stop in Detroit on Monday night for a 7:00 p.m. game.