Phoenix Suns (38-27, sixth in the Western Conference) against Boston Celtics (51-14, first in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Boston will look to extend its three-game winning streak with a victory against Phoenix.
The Celtics are 29-3 in home games. Boston is fourth in the NBA, allowing just 109.6 points per game while holding opponents to 44.9 percent shooting.
The Suns are 17-13 on the road. Phoenix is seventh in the Western Conference with 44.0 rebounds per game led by Jusuf Nurkic averaging 10.8.
The Celtics’ 120.8 points per game average is 6.5 points more than the Suns are giving up (114.3). The Suns score 7.4 more points per game (117.0) than the Celtics allow their opponents to score (109.6).
The teams are playing for the second time this season. In the last game on March 10, the Celtics won 117-107, led by 29 points from Jayson Tatum, while Kevin Durant scored 45 points for the Suns.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tatum is averaging 27 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Celtics. Derrick White is averaging 12.9 points over the last 10 games.
Durant is averaging 28.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the Suns. Grayson Allen has averaged 3.5 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 8-2, averaging 121.4 points, 46.0 rebounds, 27.9 assists, 7.0 steals and 7.1 blocks per game while shooting 50.4% since field. Their opponents average 104.4 points per game.
Suns: 5-5, averaging 113.6 points, 48.2 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.6 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents average 113.9 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Svi Mykhailiuk: day-to-day (personal), Jaylen Brown: out (back), Kristaps Porzingis: out (hamstring), Al Horford: out (toe).
Suns: Damion Lee: out (knee), Eric Gordon: day to day (knee), Josh Okogie: day to day (hip), Nassir Little: day to day (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data logging and the data of Sports radar.
