Monty Williams’ side will look to put their ignominious home defeat to the Hawks behind them, although doing so against Boston will be easier said than done.

Check the NBA odds as they develop.

Suns vs. Celtics NBA Betting Odds

As intraconference squads, Phoenix and Boston are, relatively speaking, unfamiliar foes. However, their most recent encounter was one that had a lot of ink spilled in sports media. The Celtics strutted into the desert on Dec. 7 and thumped the hosts 125-98. If the final score wasn’t bad enough, consider that the visitors held a 39-point lead when the final frame commenced. Not for the first time in 2022 (playoffs included), the Suns were kept at bay at home by extremely dark clouds.

With respect to dealing with spreads, Phoenix has proven to be a decent if unspectacular proposition this season. 28-25 is fine but suggests they lack consistency. Optimism resides in their 7-3 effort over the previous 10 tilts. Three of those successes occurred when Phoenix was viewed as an underdog.

There are only so many ways in which we can write that the Celtics are not to be trusted ATS (26-25-1 despite being the top dog in the Eastern Conference). Let’s dig up some deeper statistics, shall we? Boston has yet to lose at home this season to a Western Conference foe (10-0). The team also plays rather well on Fridays, sporting a 6-3 tally thus far. A bit more alarming is their 2-3 record during Marcus Smart’s injury-plagued absence.

Phoenix Suns

There is a sense of irony about Friday night’s clash with the Celtics. For one, as alluded to, the last time they met was an unmitigated disaster for the Suns. As such, an opportunity presents itself to even the score, so to speak. Furthermore, Phoenix is heading into Beantown to play a team that spanked them in December right after being on the receiving end of another embarrassing home defeat on Wednesday, this time to Atlanta.

If the first quarter hinted that fans would be treated to a fun contest, the Hawks made it quite clear in the next period that patrons shouldn’t get their hopes up high. The visitors won that quarter 40-24 and coasted the rest of the way for a 133-100 victory. Trae Young was up to his old tricks again, splashing three-point scores from unfathomable distances. The Hawks were a scorching 57.6 per cent from long range. Phoenix? 14.3. Yikes. It felt like everything Atlanta attempted worked (57.1 per cent field goal efficiency). Not only did Young (20) and Dejounte Murray (21) come to play, but so did bench player Bogdan Bogdanovich, who chipped in with 18 of his own.

Boston Celtics

Sometimes to be good, one needs a stroke of luck. To an extent, the Celtics can say they’ve benefitted from good fortune insofar as they’ve had the luxury of playing the Brooklyn Nets twice this season whilst Kevin Durant has been sidelined.

Boston ripped the Nets apart 139-96 on Wednesday, an unspeakably bad scoreline for the visitors. From the word go Joe Mazzulla’s unit ran amuck, claiming the opening 12 minutes by a score of 46-16. The hosts took what they liked when they wanted to, winning just about every statistical category imaginable, save perhaps free throw shooting. But Boston didn’t even need good free throw efficiency on the night given that everything else worked in their favour. Jaylen Brown carried over his excellent three-point play from Saturday night (7-12) and Jayson Tatum matched him, also going 7-12. Robert Williams III was the starting Celtic with the worst +/-: +22!

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Suns vs. Celtics?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Suns Team Leaders

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.75
Assists	Chris Paul 8.88
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.96
FG%	Deandre Ayton 58.9
Steals	Chris Paul 1.54
Blocks	Bismack Biyombo 1.44

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.07
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.26
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.77
FG%	Robert Williams III 74.7
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.52
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.37

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 33.73
Assists	Chris Paul 7.43
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.7
FG%	Jock Landale 63
Steals	Devin Booker 1.73
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.36

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 27.15
Assists	Jayson Tatum 5.25
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 10.5
FG%	Luke Kornet 87.5
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.25
Blocks	Al Horford 1.7

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Celtics Team Leaders

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.75
Assists	Chris Paul 8.88
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.96
FG%	Deandre Ayton 58.9
Steals	Chris Paul 1.54
Blocks	Bismack Biyombo 1.44

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.07
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.26
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.77
FG%	Robert Williams III 74.7
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.52
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.37

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 33.73
Assists	Chris Paul 7.43
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.7
FG%	Jock Landale 63
Steals	Devin Booker 1.73
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.36

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 27.15
Assists	Jayson Tatum 5.25
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 10.5
FG%	Luke Kornet 87.5
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.25
Blocks	Al Horford 1.7

Injuries

Phoenix

Deandre Ayton (C)

Out Thurs Ribs - 10 / 05 / 23

Chris Paul (PG)

Out Thurs Groin - 02 / 05 / 23

Chris Paul (PG)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

Deandre Ayton (C)

Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 23

Bismack Biyombo (C)

Prob Sun Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Devin Booker (SG)

Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 23

Cameron Payne (PG)

Prob Tues Back - 08 / 04 / 23

Kevin Durant (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23

Deandre Ayton (C)

Ques Sun Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Devin Booker (SG)

Ques Sun Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Boston

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Prob Mon Forearm - 25 / 05 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Prob Fri Forearm - 17 / 05 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 06 / 05 / 23

Blake Griffin (PF)

Prob Sun Back - 05 / 05 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Ques Wed Chest - 02 / 05 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Prob Sun Tailbone - 22 / 04 / 23

Al Horford (C)

Prob Sat Back - 08 / 04 / 23

Robert Williams III (C)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Derrick White (PG)

Prob Fri Ankle - 06 / 04 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Prob Sat Back - 06 / 04 / 23

Injuries

Phoenix

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Deandre Ayton (C)	Out Thurs	Ribs - 10 / 05 / 23	1-1	1-1	+ -
Ayton is nursing a rib contusion, and he will not face the Nuggets in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Chris Paul (PG)	Out Thurs	Groin - 02 / 05 / 23	2-3	3-2	+ -
Paul is hobbled by a left groin strain, and he will not partake in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Nuggets.
Chris Paul (PG)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	5-7	8-3-1	+ -
Paul will sit out for Sunday's showdown with the Clippers for rest purposes.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Ayton is taking a day of rest and will not be available Sunday versus the Clippers.
Bismack Biyombo (C)	Prob Sun	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Biyombo is managing a right knee injury, but it is likely that he will suit up against the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Devin Booker (SG)	Out Sun	Rest - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Booker will not be in the lineup against the Clippers on Sunday as he will be taking a day of rest.
Cameron Payne (PG)	Prob Tues	Back - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Payne has been idle with lower-back soreness, but it is anticipated that he will return to the court for Game 5 of the Western Conference against the Clippers.
Kevin Durant (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Durant is tending to an ankle injury, but it is anticipated that he will participate versus the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Ques Sun	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	6-8	9-4-1	+ -
Ayton missed the last game as he was given a day of rest, and it is uncertain if he will play versus the Clippers on Sunday.
Devin Booker (SG)	Ques Sun	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	6-8	9-4-1	+ -
Booker missed the last contest as he was given a day of rest, and it is undetermined if he will suit up on Sunday against the Clippers.

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Prob Mon	Forearm - 25 / 05 / 23	2-1	0-3	+ -
Brogdon is nursing a partially torn tendon in his right forearm, but it is anticipated that he will be active versus the Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Prob Fri	Forearm - 17 / 05 / 23	3-4	3-4	+ -
Brogdon is managing a right forearm strain, but it is likely that he will take on the Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 06 / 05 / 23	5-6	6-5	+ -
Smart is hobbled by a left ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will take on the 76ers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Blake Griffin (PF)	Prob Sun	Back - 05 / 05 / 23	6-6	6-6	+ -
Griffin is tending to lower-back pain, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the 76ers.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Ques Wed	Chest - 02 / 05 / 23	6-7	7-6	+ -
Smart is nursing a chest contusion, leaving his status against the 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals up in the air.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Prob Sun	Tailbone - 22 / 04 / 23	8-9	11-6	+ -
Smart is hindered by a tailbone contusion, but it is projected that he will take on the Hawks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Al Horford (C)	Prob Sat	Back - 08 / 04 / 23	12-9	13-8	+ -
Horford is nursing lower back stiffness, but it is projected that he will be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Hawks.
Robert Williams III (C)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	12-9	13-8	+ -
Williams is managing left knee soreness, but it is not expected to affect his status for the Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round with the Hawks.
Derrick White (PG)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 06 / 04 / 23	13-9	13-9	+ -
White has a left ankle sprain, but it is not expected to affect his availability for Friday's tilt with the Raptors.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Prob Sat	Back - 06 / 04 / 23	13-9	13-9	+ -
Brogdon is hampered by lower-back soreness, but it is likely that he will bounce back in time to face the Hawks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.