Suns Humbled by Celtics in Wednesday Night Blowout

PHOENIX -- It's not typical for the Phoenix Suns to drop a game at home. Entering this week, the Suns lost just two games at home. 

It's also not typical for Phoenix to drop consecutive games, something that's only happened once this season. 

It's really not typical for the Suns to get flat-out embarrassed in back-to-back outings, but the Boston Celtics ensured that happened in a 125-98 victory at the Footprint Center.

Phoenix hoped to put a dreadful Monday showing vs. Dallas behind them, yet that was far from the case. 

Jayson Tatum heard "MVP!" chants at the line. A vibrant chorus of "Lets Go Celtics!" rang through a half-empty arena in the fourth quarter. 

Tonight marked the first time Phoenix has lost consecutive regular season games by 19 points or more since Feb. of 2020. It also marked the third time all season the Suns failed to reach 100 points. 

Prior to the game, Monty Williams spoke on Chris Paul returning from injury after missing the last 14 games. 

"Starting is actually tougher when you shorten the minutes because you want to finish with Chris (Paul). It would be much easier to bring him off the bench because you could finish each quarter with him," Williams said.

"We are trying to manage that part too. Somewhere along the line I’ll probably have to give him a shorter stint. In case we have to finish, wish you could win every game by 20 and not have to worry about it. But we are playing against a team that is really good in so many areas. Trying to balance that part and trying your best to win the game. 

"We will just see as we go, but he will start.”

Paul registered just four points, four rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes. 

Not much went right for Phoenix, if anything did at all. Boston, the East's top team, simply looked like the NBA Finals contender they were last year. The Suns proved to still be a work in progress despite the massive talent on the roster. 

Phoenix finished with 25% shooting from the arc and was paced by Josh Okogie in scoring (28). 

Booker had four fouls at halftime and ended up with 17 points. This was the first two-game stretch this season where he was held to under 20 points. 

The Suns emptied the bench with 4:57 left in the third down by 43 and never looked back.

Phoenix hopes to move on to a two-game series in New Orleans beginning on Friday.