Projo Sports Blog

BOSTON - The Celtics have been able to count on three things so far this season - the solid play of their second unit, their ability to dominate the third quarter, and their tenacious defense.

When the Celtics starters have struggled, Boston's second unit had always been there to pick them up.

Then, after an emotional halftime speech by one of the Celtics, they would come out and dominate the third quarter, using their ferocious defense to spark the offense. That formula had gotten the Celtics off to a 6-0 start.

But last night was different. Playing a Phoenix Suns team that felt like it had something to prove after being embarrassed by the Orlando Magic in their previous outing, the Suns made sure that the Celtics could not rely on any of their constants.

Boston's second unit struggled, the Suns, who owned a six-point halftime lead, played well in the third quarter, and they were not fazed by Boston's defense or the deafening sellout crowd of 18,624 in the Garden.

The result was a 110-103 victory by the Suns, who handed the Celtics (6-1) their first loss of the season.

The Celtics only trailed by two points entering the fourth quarter, but the Suns opened up the final stanza with an 11-2 run which Jared Dudley capped off with a short jumper that gave the Suns a 96-85 lead with 7:56 remaining in the game.

The Celtics did their best to rally. After back-to-back Rasheed Wallace baskets, the Suns turned the ball over and then called a timeout to try to stop Boston's momentum.

It didn't work.

The Celtics got the ball to Ray Allen out of the timeout, and he buried a 3-pointer with 5:24 left to cut the Phoenix lead to 96-92.

The two teams would go back-and-forth exchanges buckets over the next three minutes which were highlighted by an Allen one-handed jam.

But with 2:41 remaining, the Celtics still trailed by six after a Steve Nash free throw.

A Garnett reverse layup made it 104-100 with 2:29 to go and the Celtics forced the Suns into a bad shot on their ensuing possession, but the Celtics never pulled within four after that.

Amare Stoudemire blocked a Rajon Rondo layup, and a Rasheed Wallace 3-pointer with 1:08 remaining rattled around the rim and then bounced out.

Nash ended any hopes of a Boston comeback when he knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing to make it 107-100 with 50.9 seconds left.

Jason Richardson led all scorers with 34 points and 10 rebounds.

Garnett (26 points, 8 rebounds) and Kendrick Perkins (12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks) dominated the paint, where the Celtics outscored the Suns, 60-36.

 Tags  Boston Celtics Celtics Phoenix Suns Rob Lee Robert Lee Suns

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