Jayson Tatum leads Boston into a matchup with Phoenix averaging 31.1 points per game. Friday's meeting will be the second of the season between the two teams. Boston is 20-6 at home, and Phoenix is …
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Tatum leads Boston into matchup against Phoenix
Rick Scuteri
Phoenix Suns guard Saben Lee (9) and center Bismack Biyombo (18) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Posted
By The Associated Press
Phoenix Suns (27-26, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (37-15, first in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics take on the Phoenix Suns. Tatum currently ranks fourth in the league scoring 31.1 points per game.
The Celtics have gone 20-6 at home. Boston is the top team in the Eastern Conference with 26.3 assists per game led by Marcus Smart averaging 7.2.
The Suns have gone 8-17 away from home. Phoenix has a 15-16 record against teams over .500.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Celtics won 125-98 in the last matchup on Dec. 8. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 25 points, and Josh Okogie led the Suns with 28 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tatum is scoring 31.1 points per game with 8.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists for the Celtics. Brown is averaging 22.7 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 49.3% over the past 10 games for Boston.
Deandre Ayton is averaging 17.4 points and 9.9 rebounds for the Suns. Mikal Bridges is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Phoenix.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 7-3, averaging 116.2 points, 48.3 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 5.8 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.2 points per game.
Suns: 6-4, averaging 112.8 points, 46.7 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 6.9 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.8 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Danilo Gallinari: out for season (knee), Marcus Smart: out (ankle).
Suns: Cameron Payne: out (foot), Devin Booker: out (groin), Landry Shamet: out (foot).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
