Updated Feb. 24, 2026, 9:52 p.m. MT
The Phoenix Suns continued their four-game homestand with a 97-81 loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The Suns (33-26) are now 4-7 in their last 11 games, while the Celtics (38-19) are 9-2 in their last 11 games.
This was the first matchup between the Celtics and Suns this season. They will meet again on March 16 in Boston.
The Celtics led by as many as 28 points in beating the Suns without All-Star Jaylen Brown, who sat out with a right knee contusion. Derrick White scored a game-high 22 points.
Collin Gillespie paced Phoenix with 15 points.
The Suns were coming off a 92-77 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers to reach a season low for points in a game.
Two nights later, they hit their second-lowest point total of the season after shooting 36.7% from the field, going 12-of-36 on 3s.
Phoenix allowed 22 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second-chance points for Boston.
Phoenix was without All-Star Devin Booker (right hip strain), Dillon Brooks (left hand fracture), Jordan Goodwin (left calf strain) and Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management), who hasn’t played all season and just officially joined the team Feb. 18.
The Suns are seventh in the Western Conference, but are just three games out of third place. Boston is second in the Eastern Conference despite not having Jayson Tatum (right Achilles repair) all season.
Celtics slim halftime lead
The Phoenix Suns squandered a double-digit lead as they trailed the Boston Celtics, 50-46, at halftime at Mortgage Matchup Center.
Derrick White scored 18 points, going 4-of-9 from 3, in leading the Celtics, who have only turned the ball over two times. The Suns have scored five points off those two Boston turnovers.
The Suns led, 41-30, with 6:41 remaining in the first half. Boston outscored Phoenix, 20-5, for the remainder of the half.
Royce O’Neale, Jalen Green and Grayson Allen each have nine points to lead the Suns.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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