The Boston Celtics were too much for Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night, defeating the Western Conference contenders 127-112 to defend their home court. The Celtics extended their league-best record to 52-14, while the Suns, who are fighting for a berth in the West’s crowded playoff picture, slipped to 38-28.
The Celtics won despite solid efforts from the Suns’ starting five. Kevin Durant scored 20 points, Devin Booker had 23, Bradley Beal had 21, and Jusuf Nurkic had eight points and 20 rebounds.
However, All-Star Jaylen Brown showed out the most, scoring a game-high 37 points and grabbing five rebounds. Jayson Tatum, another All-Star, produced 26 points, five assists, and five rebounds, while Al Horford scored 24.
Kevin Durant and the Suns jumped off to an early eight-point lead. However, the Celtics immediately reversed the momentum in their favor, with Tatum hitting back-to-back triples to give the Eastern Conference contenders a 65-60 halftime advantage.
Durant shot 47.4% from the field, which is lower than his season average of 52.9%. He only completed one triple in three attempts.
The two-time Finals MVP, who boasts season averages of 6.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game, had only three rebounds and one assist. The Celtics’ defense caused him to make three turnovers.
Kevin Durant ties Wilt Chamberlain’s record
Kevin Durant played his 1045th career regular-season game on Thursday, surpassing Elden Campbell and tying with the legendary Wilt Chamberlain. Durant now ranks 121st on the all-time regular season games played list.
Durant achieved this record despite missing the entire 2019-20 season with an Achilles ailment.
Durant has played 243 games since returning from the injury, despite concerns about the injury’s long-term ramifications.
Leroy Ellis and DeAndre Jordan are ahead of Durant and Chamberlain in terms of games played, with 1,048 each.
Durant and the Suns will seek to rebound on Friday against the Charlotte Hornets, before facing the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, and San Antonio Spurs again.
A difficult stretch awaits them at the end of the season, with games against the Denver Nuggets, OKC Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans (twice), Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves (twice), LA Clippers (twice), and Sacramento Kings—all playoff-bound teams—coming up.