Celtics Vs Suns: Fourth straight win and a rebounding surge reshape Boston’s momentum
The celtics vs suns result in Phoenix on Feb. 24, 2026 matters because it didn’t look like a single-game outburst so much as a continuation of form: Boston picked up its fourth straight victory and ninth in 10 games, driven by a dominant third quarter and an overwhelming edge on the glass. That combination shifts short-term expectations for the Celtics’ run while leaving the Suns to juggle roster absences.
Momentum shift and performance trend
Boston’s win extended a hot run that now reads four consecutive wins and nine victories in the last 10 games. The margin for the recent stretch is more than wins: the Celtics’ third-quarter burst and the 27-rebound advantage suggest a template that could persist over multiple outings. Here’s the part that matters: sustained control on the boards and a short, decisive segment (the third quarter) turned a close halftime into a comfortable finish.
Celtics Vs Suns — game details from Phoenix
On Tuesday night in Phoenix the Celtics beat the Suns 97-81. Boston led 50-46 at halftime but opened the second half by outscoring Phoenix 30-11 in the third quarter, a frame that included a 16-0 run. The game ended with the Celtics outrebounding the Suns by 27, the board totals 61 to 34.
Stat line snapshot
- Derrick White — 22 points.
- Neemias Queta — 14 points and 13 rebounds.
- Sam Hauser — 16 points on 6-for-14 shooting, 4-for-10 from 3-point range.
- Baylor Scheierman — 11 points and 11 rebounds.
- Collin Gillespie — 15 points for the Suns.
- Grayson Allen — 14 points for the Suns.
- Final score: Celtics 97, Suns 81.
Absent scorers and short-term impact on Phoenix
The Suns played without their top two scorers: Devin Booker (right hip strain) and Dillon Brooks (left hand fracture). Those two combined average nearly 46 points per game, a gap Phoenix had to navigate in this matchup. The Suns have lost four of their last five games, a short-term slide that the roster absences have compounded.
- Key implications: Boston’s rebounding edge and third-quarter spike create a repeatable formula for control; Phoenix’s missing scorers are an immediate constraint.
- Groups affected first: opposing teams that rely on second-chance points and middling perimeter defense face a tougher matchup against Boston right now.
- Next signals to watch: whether the Celtics maintain similar rebounding margins and whether Phoenix can restore scoring balance once their top scorers return.
Scheduling and immediate outlook
After this game the Suns host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. The Celtics’ stretch and Phoenix’s injury-driven rotation set up contrasting short-term objectives for both clubs as the week progresses.
What’s easy to miss is the scale of the rebound gap — a 61-34 final — which underpinned nearly every second-chance and possession swing in the second half. The real test will be whether this level of control is repeatable for Boston and how quickly Phoenix can mitigate the scoring deficit while missing key contributors.
