The Boston Celtics earned a 120-112 win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night at TD Garden, using a steady offensive performance and a strong closing stretch to take control late. Jaylen Brown led the way with 41 points, and Boston overcame a fast start from Phoenix to improve to 45-23 on the season while the Suns dropped to 39-29.
Quarter-by-quarter breakdown
First quarter: Phoenix opened the game with sharp offensive rhythm and edged Boston 32-31 in the first 12 minutes. Devin Booker set the tone early for the Suns, and Phoenix did enough to carry a narrow lead into the second quarter.
Second quarter: The Celtics answered with their best offensive quarter of the night, outscoring the Suns 34-29. Boston moved the ball well, found production across the floor, and turned a one-point deficit into a 65-61 halftime lead.
Third quarter: The game stayed close after the break, but Boston continued to hold a slim advantage. The Celtics outscored Phoenix 26-25 in the third, extending the lead to 91-86 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth quarter: Phoenix remained within reach, but Boston’s offense delivered again late. The Celtics won the fourth 29-26, kept the Suns from making a full comeback, and closed out the eight-point win without needing overtime.
Key performers
Boston Celtics:
Jaylen Brown delivered one of the best all-around performances of the night, finishing with 41 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. He led Boston in scoring, rebounding, and assists, setting the pace for an offense that produced 120 points on 48.8% shooting from the field and 42.5% from three-point range.
The Celtics also got strong team-wide support, particularly as playmakers. Boston finished with 31 assists and knocked down 17 three-pointers, a combination that helped maintain offensive flow throughout the game. The Celtics were also highly efficient at the line, making 25 of 27 free throws.
Phoenix Suns:
Devin Booker kept Phoenix in the game with 40 points and 6 assists, giving the Suns a reliable scoring source from start to finish. Oso Ighodaro added playmaking value with a team-high 8 assists, while Jalen Green led Phoenix with 7 rebounds.
The Suns had solid moments offensively and matched Boston at the free-throw line with 25 made foul shots, but they were less efficient from the floor overall. Phoenix shot 44.6% from the field and 32.5% from beyond the arc.
Game analysis
This game largely came down to efficiency and shot quality. Both teams attempted 40 three-pointers, but Boston made 17 while Phoenix made 13. That 12-point edge from long range was an important difference in a game that stayed competitive throughout all four quarters.
Boston also showed better overall offensive balance. The Celtics recorded 31 assists on 39 made field goals, a strong indicator of how well they created looks in the half court. Even with Booker’s 40-point night on the other side, Phoenix did not get quite enough scoring efficiency to swing the result.
Another important factor was Boston’s consistency. The Celtics did not have a runaway quarter, but they outscored the Suns in each of the final three periods after trailing by one at the end of the first. That steady, incremental edge allowed them to pull away gradually and protect the lead late.
Closing context
The win moved Boston to 45-23 and added another strong result to its home record, which improved to 23-10. For Phoenix, the loss dropped the Suns to 39-29 and 17-16 on the road. With the regular season entering a key stretch, both teams remain firmly in the playoff race, and Monday’s result offered another reminder of how important late-game execution and perimeter efficiency can be against quality competition.
