Derrick White delivers victory for Boston in defensive battle against the Suns
The Boston Celtics delivered an impressive collective performance to defeat the Phoenix Suns 97-81 Tuesday night. Led by Derrick White and his 22 points, the defending champions demonstrated their roster depth despite several key absences.
A devastating third quarter seals the victory
After a tight first half (50-46 at halftime), the Celtics completely took control of the game after the break. Boston crushed Phoenix 30-11 in the third quarter, including a 16-0 run that definitively swung the game in the visitors’ favor.
This dominance was also reflected on the boards, where the Celtics outclassed their opponents with a significant advantage of 61 to 34 rebounds. Neemias Queta particularly excelled in this area with a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Baylor Scheierman also recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Derrick White on Neemias Queta:
« He’s been amazing, on both sides of the ball. Just always seems to be in the right place… It’s great to see him do it night in and night out. We expect that from him every day, and he shows up and he brings it. » pic.twitter.com/jNUwANmSAt
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) February 25, 2026
Sam Hauser contributed offensively with 16 points, shooting 6/14 from the field including 4/10 from 3-point range. This collective performance allowed the Celtics to win their fourth consecutive victory and their ninth success in the last ten games, despite the absence of star Jaylen Brown, who is dealing with a right knee injury.
On the Phoenix side, Collin Gillespie (15 points) and Grayson Allen (14 points) tried to keep their team afloat, but the Suns struggled against the depth of the opposing roster. The absence of their two leading scorers, Devin Booker (right hip injury) and Dillon Brooks (left hand fracture), who combine for nearly 46 points per game, was sorely felt.
This loss marks the fourth defeat in five games for Phoenix, who will host the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday. Boston, meanwhile, will continue its road trip in Denver Wednesday night, with the goal of confirming their excellent current momentum.
Comments (0)