THE Boston Celtics earned a 117-107 road victory over the Phoenix Suns last Saturday, but the Suns will have a much different look for the rematch Thursday in Boston.
Guard Devin Booker didn’t play in the loss to Boston because of an ankle injury, but he returned Monday and scored 27 points to help Phoenix beat host Cleveland 117-111. Booker added seven assists and a team-high six rebounds.
“Even if you miss one game and come back the next, it feels like the first game of the season,” Booker said. “I’m just happy to be out there with the guys. I hate not being out there with them. I can’t do much from the bench. Try to lead and talk from there, but I love being on the field.”
Booker, who averages 27.5 points per game, injured his ankle March 2 against Houston when he stepped on teammate Royce O’Neale’s ankle while trying to protect Fred VanVleet from Houston. The injury caused Booker to miss four games and Phoenix went 2-2 during that stretch. The Suns are 32-19 this season when Booker plays.
“(My ankle) was going both ways,” Booker said. “Inverted then a little bit outside, which I’ve never had before. Most of the pain was inside, but it healed quickly. I trust my body, I trust our team training and I took every step to ensure that I could speed up the process as quickly as possible.
Kevin Durant scored a game-high 37 points against Cleveland, including 19 in the third quarter. He scored 45 in the loss to Boston.
“It’s good to have (Booker) there,” Durant said. “His communication was on point, as always. The intangible elements that he brings to the game, that’s what we missed the most. Obviously, his talent, it’s easy to take that for granted sometimes. We missed that , but his intangibles… speak. , being there on the defensive side of the ball, playing physical.”
Boston has also faced injury issues. Jaylen Brown (sacroiliac strain), Al Horford (sprained toe) and Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring strain) all missed Tuesday’s 123-107 win over Utah. Porzingis has missed the last three games.
Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman and Oshae Brissett all received additional minutes against Utah. Boston was also without guard Jrue Holiday in Monday night’s 121-99 victory at Portland.
“The fact that the last two games, everyone has stepped up, that’s just what we’re trying to build where we have an environment in the locker room, a culture of like it doesn’t matter who’s there, guys are ready to play at any time,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said.
“The professionalism of these guys, they are constantly ready and I have no hesitation in hiring any of them because of the work that they do, and that has shown over the last (last) two games. That’s kind of what we have. “I’m trying to fight for that depth. It’s fun to watch. “
Boston, an NBA-best 29-3 at home this season, will look to extend its winning streak to four after a 3-2 road trip. The Suns are 17-13 on the road.
–Field level media
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