{"id":622763,"date":"2026-02-24T22:01:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T22:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/622763\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T22:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T22:01:17","slug":"game-preview-shorthanded-suns-face-tall-task-against-surging-celtics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/622763\/","title":{"rendered":"Game Preview: Shorthanded Suns face tall task against surging Celtics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Who: Phoenix Suns (33-25) vs. Boston Celtics (37-19)<\/p>\n

When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time<\/p>\n

Where: Mortgage Matchup Center \u2014 Phoenix, Arizona<\/p>\n

Watch: Arizona\u2019s Family 3TV, Arizona\u2019s Family Sports, Suns+<\/p>\n

Tonight presents a demanding challenge for the Phoenix Suns yet again after an ugly loss to Portland on Sunday night. They\u2019ll need to have a short memory after scoring just 77 points on Sunday night.<\/p>\n

The Suns welcome a Boston team that has looked every bit like a contender, carrying a 37-19 record and a three-game win streak into the Mortgage Matchup Center. The Celtics sit near the top of the Eastern Conference for a reason, bringing depth, structure, and defensive discipline every night despite being down Jayson Tatum.<\/p>\n

Phoenix enters at 33-25, clinging onto the seventh spot in the West, but the circumstances make this one steeper than usual. Injuries have thinned the rotation, forcing younger players and reserves into expanded roles against one of the league\u2019s most complete rosters. Will we see more of the rookies? We might have to.<\/p>\n

The Suns have managed to stay competitive through stretches like this before. Doing it against Boston will require poise, execution, and collective effort across the board, which has been their mantra all season long.<\/p>\n

This is a game they are \u201csupposed\u201d to lose. We\u2019ll see if Jordan Ott and company can deliver another surprise this season.<\/p>\n

Mark WilliamsRyan DunnRoyce O\u2019NealeJalen GreenCollin GillespieNeemius QuetaSam HauserDerrick WhiteBaylor ScheiermanPayton PritchardGrayson Allen \u2014 QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)Devin Booker \u2014 OUT (Right Hip Strain)Dillon Brooks \u2014 OUT (Left Hand)Jordan Goodwin \u2014 OUT (Left Calf Strain)Haywood Highsmith \u2014 OUT ( Right Knee Injury)Cole Anthony \u2014 OUT (Not With Team)Jaylen Brown \u2014 OUT (Knee)<\/p>\n

Boston has one of the best defensive units in the NBA this season. They disrupt passing lanes, force turnovers, and make you uncomfortable, similar to Phoenix\u2019s style. The Celtics traveled to the Bay Area and Los Angeles on consecutive games and defeated them with ease. Phoenix needs to bring a different energy to the game tonight to have a chance and eliminate the West Coast momentum they\u2019ll carry in.<\/p>\n

This Suns team ranks among the league\u2019s best in offensive rebounding (13.1 per game), with Mark Williams particularly active crashing the glass. That extra possession could be crucial against a Boston squad that loves to clear defensive rebounds and push in transition. If Phoenix can secure extra chances and keep the ball alive, they stay in these tight moments.<\/p>\n

\"PORTLAND,<\/a><\/p>\n

PORTLAND, OR – FEBRUARY 3: Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns grabs the rebound during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 3, 2026 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne\/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Without Booker, Brooks, and possibly Allen, Phoenix needs shots from unlikely places. Collin Gillespie has been a quiet but steady source of scoring lately, and role players like Royce O\u2019Neale, Ryan Dunn, and others must help keep Boston honest on the perimeter. The Suns have shown the ability to knock down threes at a strong rate this season, but consistency from role players will be huge tonight. Could tonight be the Amir Coffey game?<\/p>\n

Boston is not just guards and wings. They pound the glass and play physical basketball. Phoenix\u2019s interior defense needs to rotate smartly, communicate, and limit second-chance points. Williams and the Suns\u2019 frontline must make it hard for Boston in the paint if this game is going to feel competitive down the stretch. Even without Jaylen Brown, the Celtics are built for that \u201cnext man up\u201d style of play with players who fit their system flawlessly.<\/p>\n

Slowing Payton Pritchard down will be a key for Phoenix, and this is a game they are going to miss Jordan Goodwin in desperately.<\/p>\n

Score points. Please? Someone? Anyone? The Suns are going to need \u201cthe others\u201d to step up in a big way tonight.<\/p>\n

Compete every possession. Boston is disciplined and rarely lets up. Phoenix needs to mirror that effort level from tipoff through the final buzzer.<\/p>\n

Clean decision-making. Turnovers against a team like Boston are costly. The Suns must protect the ball and maximize every possession.<\/p>\n

Exploit mismatches. With Boston potentially short on wings, ball movement and pin-down actions can create easy looks if Phoenix executes.<\/p>\n

Finish at the rim. Boston\u2019s length is a deterrent, but attacking closeouts and finishing strong is what allows a young Phoenix squad to stay within striking distance.<\/p>\n

If Phoenix can stay connected on both ends of the floor, who knows? This could be one of those nights where the Suns shock a contender and remind the league they belong in every conversation. I\u2019m not counting on that, but would love to be wrong. I think Boston overwhelms them from start to finish.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Who: Phoenix Suns (33-25) vs. Boston Celtics (37-19) When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time Where: Mortgage Matchup Center \u2014…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":622764,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3766],"tags":[7,45,75,3798,46,6,30667],"class_list":{"0":"post-622763","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-boston-celtics","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-boston","10":"tag-boston-celtics","11":"tag-bostonceltics","12":"tag-celtics","13":"tag-nba","14":"tag-suns-game-previews"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/622763","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=622763"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/622763\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/622764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=622763"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=622763"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=622763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}