Final: Celtics 117, Suns 107 - C's execute down the stretch to hold off Kevin Durant, Suns

BOSTON CELTICS at PHOENIX SUNS

8:30 p.m. - ABC

Line: Boston -5.5

INJURIES

Boston: Kristaps Porzingis (QUESTIONABLE OUT, hamstring)

Phoenix: Devin Booker (QUESTIONABLE  OUT, ankle), Josh Okogie (OUT, abdominal strain), Nassir Little (OUT, knee), Damion Lee (OUT, knee)

NOTES

• Denver has alternated two wins and two losses over their last 10 games.

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. Jayson Tatum settling down: Tatum has not had the best road trip so far. He wasn’t making great reads against Cleveland and it bit the Celtics in the fourth quarter. He had a bad game against Denver. The talk about him has shifted from an MVP push to “can he get the job done?” 

Tonight he goes against his best friend Bradley Beal. Can he get back on track as the head of a very dangerous snake, or will he continue trying to do too much on his own? Can he settle back into making the right reads?

2. Keeping Phoenix out of transition: They are the most effective transition team in the NBA, averaging 1.24 points per possession on the break. They are a tick behind Milwaukee for percentage of free throw attempts on transition opportunities and number one in the NBA in shooting fouls in transition. 

3. Attack the paint: The Celtics can get past the perimeter defenders, and Jusuf Nurkic struggles as a pick-and-roll defender, so put him in the blender and attack. 

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.