Gameday Preview: Celtics Battle Suns in Early Super Sunday Tilt
Creator: Brian Babineau | Credit: NBAE via Getty Images | Copyright: 2020 NBAE
No Jaylen Brown, no problem!
The Boston Celtics shook off not having one of their leaders, making crucial defensive stops and free throws down the stretch to defeat the LA Clippers. Now, on one of the biggest “sports days” of the year, they must take on a Phoenix Suns team that features one of the NBA’s best young scorers in Devin Booker - a man who once scored 70 points in a game against the C’s.
The Suns come into this game with a 12-9 record and currently boast 7 players who are scoring in the double figures, a group led by the aforementioned Booker (23.1 ppg). Phoenix also have perennial All-Star guard Chris Paul and young center DeAndre Ayton, who is fourth in the NBA in rebounding at 12.8 per game. Basically, Coach Brad Stevens is not expecting the Suns to roll over just because the game falls on Super Bowl Sunday.
Kemba Walker is rounding into form, scoring 24 points (9-19 shooting) in 32 minutes last game. Walker had a huge steal and jumper in the final minute on Friday and stepped up big in Brown’s absence. Carsen Edwards saw 30 minutes of action, too, and scored 16 points with 3/5 shooting from behind the arc. Robert Williams and Tristan Thompson combined to score 21 points as the Celtics came together for their biggest road win of the season. Grant Williams dropped 11 points, as well as he continues to do whatever is asked of him by Stevens. It was nice to see this team come together as short-handed as they are and get the victory.
While this will not be an easy game in any way, hopefully the Celtics can use this latest win as a momentum builder as they continue on this trip. Daniel Theis may not play due to a sore knee and Brown will miss his second straight game with a similar injury diagnosis. Coach Stevens states Brown being held out as a precautionary measure, so look for even more of the offense to go through Tatum again, who did not disappoint with 34 points. Boston will need every bit of a total team effort on both ends of the floor to get their 3rd win of this West Coast trip. All hands on deck here!
Make sure to tune in to our live pregame show, the Banner Town Build Up, 30 minutes before the game on both Twitter and YouTube @GuyBostonSports. The Celtics tip-off against the Suns at 2:00 PM EST on NBC Sports Boston.
