During the Friday night NBA slate, Devin Booker watched his Phoenix Suns teammates achieve a 106-94 win over the Boston Celtics from the sidelines. Regarding his return timetable, Booker said he was “rounding third.” He hasn’t played since sustaining a groin injury on Christmas.
The Suns defeated the NBA-best Boston Celtics with a victory Friday night, with Mikal Bridges scoring 25 points and Dario Saric contributing 14 points and 13 rebounds.
“I’m mindful of what I say because I don’t want to get everybody excited about it, or depress everybody, either. It’s just where he is,” Suns coach Monty Williams said before the game. “We do feel like he’s getting closer and closer to coming back.”
In Wednesday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets, Jaylen Brown scored 27 points, while Jayson Tatum added 20. Despite this, the two Boston All-Stars shot a combined 12 for 36 from the field and 6 for 22 from three-point range.
NBA SCOERS & NEWS: Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns & Boston Celtics Updates
After scoring seven points early in the game, the Celtics surrendered them all in a matter of minutes. Ayton scored three straight baskets to start a run that saw Phoenix score 12 in a row. In the second quarter, the Suns opened a 32-20 lead with back-to-back 3-pointers from Ish Wainright and Lee. As Boston scored 11 consecutive baskets before the half, it led by 20 points at the halftime break – including a 3-pointer by Tatum.
By the end of the third quarter, Phoenix had trimmed a 20-point second-quarter lead to one. Chris Paul added 15 points, eight assists, and six rebounds for Phoenix. The Suns opened the fourth with eight straight points to turn back Boston’s rally.
A timeout was called by Boston coach Joe Mazzulla after the Suns scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to open the fourth quarter up by 74-73. A layup by Derrick White snapped the Celtics’ slump, but back-to-back 3s by Damion Lee and Saric kept them out of the lead.
NBA SCOERS & NEWS: Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns & Boston Celtics Updates
After losing nine of their first 11 games without the three-time All-Star, the Suns have won seven of their last nine games in anticipation of his return during the current five-game road trip.
“For us to win it without Book is big for everyone’s confidence, because he will be back shortly,” Suns center Jock Landale said. “We would have liked to win a few more games, but now that we’re winning a lot of games and he’s on the verge of coming back, it’s big for us.”
