The Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns will put their respective win streaks on the line when they square off in this marquee matchup at Footprint Center in Phoenix. This will also be the first meeting between these teams in the 2024-25 NBA regular season. Will the Celtics roll past Phoenix? Or, will the Suns hand the defending champs a loss?
Catch this game live on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM, Manila time
Away: Boston Celtics (53-19, 29-7 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- Derrick White
- Jrue Holiday
- Jaylen Brown
- Jayson Tatum (Doubtful)
- Kristaps Porzingis
The Celtics, who have already locked up a spot in the NBA Playoffs, will look to sustain their hot form this Thursday. The reigning NBA champions have won all of their last six games, including their 113-95 victory on the road last Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings. However, Boston could be without Jayson Tatum for the Suns game after the star forward suffered an ankle injury in the win over the Kings.
Tatum is listed as doubtful for the meeting with Phoenix, and given the circumstances, it won’t be surprising to see Boston eventually rule the former Duke Blue Devils out. There should be enough firepower for the C’s even without Tatum. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Payton Pritchard are all healthy and ready to test Phoenix’s mediocre defense that is just 20th in the league with 115.6 points allowed per game and 19th with a defensive effective field goal percentage of 54.3.
The Celtics are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games versus Phoenix.
Home: Phoenix Suns (35-37, 23-13 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- Devin Booker
- Collin Gillespie
- Ryan Dunn
- Kevin Durant
- Nick Richards
The Suns are back in the Play-in Tournament picture, thanks to their four-game win streak and the saddening situation of the Dallas Mavericks. In their last game, the Suns took down the Milwaukee Bucks, 108-106, at home on Tuesday, with Devin Booker draining the game-winning jumper.
Kevin Durant had his fingerprints all over that victory, as he lit up Milwaukee for 38 points on 11-for-21 shooting while Booker had 19 points. The Celtics are a different animal, but Phoenix has proven to be a huge threat to any team of late. Before beating the Bucks, Phoenix slayed the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 123-112 victory at home last Saturday. If Tatum ends up sidelined this Thursday, that will be a big plus for the Suns. The Celtics have an efficiency differential of +9.9 when Tatum is on the court but that drops to just +1.9 when he’s off of it.
The Suns are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games overall.
Picks
Spread: Phoenix Suns (+3.5)
Over/Under: Over (223.0)
