Jaylen Brown has led the high-flying Celtics to a 15-point win over the Suns in Boston. (AP PHOTO)
Jaylen Brown has led the high-flying Celtics to a 15-point win over the Suns in Boston. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AP
Jaylen Brown has scored 37 points and Jayson Tatum 26 as Boston powered past Phoenix 127-112 at TD Garden.
Al Horford added 24, which included six of the Celtics’ season high-tying 25 three-pointers to help the hosts down the Suns for the second time in week. Eastern Conference-leading Boston improved to an NBA-best 52-14.
Devin Booker led the Suns (38-28) with 23 points, while Bradley Beal finished with 22 points and seven assists and both Kevin Durant and Grayson Allen added 20 points.
Last week, the Celtics overpowered a Phoenix team playing without Booker (ankle) during a double-digit win in Arizona, despite a 45-point night by Durant.
Durant came out hot again in Friday’s (AEDT) rematch, but Booker started slowly before finishing 9 of 20 from the field.
The All-Star duo of Tatum and Brown combined for 43 of Boston’s 65 first-half points.
Tatum was in attack mode for most of the opening 24 minutes, leading a Celtics flurry just before halftime by scoring seven of his team’s final 10 points. That included back-to-back triples over Durant that sent roars throughout the home crowd. He also was one of the primary defenders on Durant, limiting him to only five points over the final three quarters.
Tatum and Durant duelled early, trading baskets in the opening period, with each showing off multiple ways to break down the opposing defence. Durant had 15 first-quarter points, connecting on 7 of 8 shots. Tatum poured in 13 points, going 6 for 9 from the field.
Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Bulls 126-111 in Chicago and the Milwaukee Bucks stormed home to beat the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 114-105.
The Rockets, with Australia’s Jock Landale registering 13 points, five rebounds and one assist, took care of the Washington Wizards 135-119 in Houston.
