The Phoenix Suns bounced back from a loss to the Atlanta Hawks and, with 25 points from Mikal Bridges, the team overcame the Boston Celtics away from home.
“I thought we established our defense early,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. “We had really good ball movement in that first half, had 18 assists in the first half, and we were doing a better job of defending without fouling. And we were just consistent with that play for four quarters.”
Jaylen Brown scored 27 for the hosts, while Jayson Tatum, in a dark night, scored 20.
In the first half, the Celtics quickly went up 7-0, but the Suns responded with 12 unanswered points from the opponent.
Saben Lee made it 24-16, while Malcolm Brogdon pulled one back for Boston. However, the start of the second quarter was all Phoenix. In a short time, the visitors led by 32 to 20.
The reserve Jock Landale stood out and the Suns won by 39 to 25. Chris Paul made his team open 20, after basket of three. At the end of the first half, Phoenix was ahead 57-44.
On the way back from the break, the hosts reacted and cut to one. But still, the Celtics couldn’t turn it around.
Then, at the beginning of the last quarter, the Suns increased again and won by 88 to 75, after a basket by Dario Saric. But Boston reacted again and pulled over.
Brown made a three and the difference was six. However, it wasn’t enough to make the comeback.
The Hawks scored a season-high 19 3-pointers, with 10 different players making at least one. It’s the first time this season the majority of the rotation has knocked down at least one triple this year.
“It just opens the game up, obviously, if you’re making 3s, and it just opens literally everything up. So, we played a great game.” Hawks point’guard Dejounte Murray said.
