Baylor Scheierman Starts and Delivers Double-Double as Celtics Beat Suns
In a road win over the Phoenix Suns, baylor scheierman was inserted into the starting lineup and produced a double-double that underscored his growing role with the Boston Celtics. The performance matters as the team rides a hot streak and leans on role players to sustain its recent surge.
Baylor Scheierman’s Double-Double and Late Corner Triple
Coach Joe Mazzulla began the game with Scheierman among the starters, and the second-year wing responded with 11 rebounds and 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting. His activity on the offensive glass — particularly corner rebounds — was a clear factor in those numbers, and he capped the night with a corner three in the fourth quarter with roughly five minutes remaining that prompted Suns head coach Jordan Ott to call a timeout and clear his rotation.
The immediate effect was to blunt a potential Suns push and hasten the entry of end-of-game reserves, effectively extinguishing Phoenix’s comeback window. That sequence linked Scheierman’s hustle plays to a tangible coaching decision that helped preserve the road victory.
Joe Mazzulla, Rebounding Rates and Defensive Assignments
Mazzulla has repeatedly leaned on Scheierman’s defensive instincts and willingness to do the dirty work. The coach noted that Scheierman understands what he must do to help the team and praised his pride in the process after the Phoenix game, citing the player’s 11 rebounds as evidence.
Analytics underscore that reputation: Scheierman has been grabbing 21. 3% of the available defensive rebounds while on the floor, a mark second on the roster to Neemias Queta. That rebound rate helps explain why his minutes have expanded; in February he has carved out a regular place among the starters, starting six of eight games this month and logging a career-high average near 24 minutes per appearance. In total, he has started 11 games for Boston this season.
His defensive assignments have been varied and often demanding. He drew tough matchups — spending time on Luka Doncic in one contest, where he guarded the All-NBA-level talent for 36 partial possessions and limited him to seven points on 3-of-8 shooting, and logging more than four minutes on Jalen Green in Phoenix, a stretch in which Green managed three points on 1-of-5 shooting. Scheierman also picked up minutes on Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and Ryan Dunn in the Phoenix outing; the trio combined for four points during his coverage.
Those results reflect a cause-and-effect pattern: expanded defensive responsibilities have produced more minutes and more starts, and his rebounding and hustle have reinforced the coaching staff’s decision to keep him on the floor.
Bench Contributions, Team Momentum and What Comes Next
The Celtics entered the night on a notable run—winning four straight and nine of their last 10 games—and sit with a 38-19 record. Role players like Scheierman, along with veterans and other complementary pieces, have been central to sustaining that stretch while primary stars carry scoring load.
What makes this notable is how quickly Scheierman has translated preseason promises about defense into measurable game impact: more starts, a clear rebound rate advantage, and successful one-on-one stops against high-level opponents. Those elements combined to tilt late-game leverage in Boston’s favor on the road in Phoenix.
Boston will look to carry the momentum forward as it continues a demanding travel slate. For Scheierman, the immediate takeaway is straightforward — increased trust from the coaching staff has produced production on both ends of the court, and concrete plays like the late corner three and the double-double give the Celtics additional options when matchups tighten late in games.
