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

Suns Team Leaders

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 28.22
Assists	Chris Paul 9.13
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 10.15
FG%	Kevin Durant 69
Steals	Chris Paul 1.58
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.33

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.12
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.41
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.87
FG%	Robert Williams III 74.2
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.55
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.23

• Regular Season

Celtics Team Leaders

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 28.22
Assists	Chris Paul 9.13
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 10.15
FG%	Kevin Durant 69
Steals	Chris Paul 1.58
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.33

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.12
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.41
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.87
FG%	Robert Williams III 74.2
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.55
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.23

Injuries

Phoenix

Deandre Ayton (C)

Ques Sat Hip - 18 / 03 / 23

Torrey Craig (SF)

Prob Thurs Heel - 15 / 03 / 23

Torrey Craig (SF)

Prob Tues Heel - 14 / 03 / 23

Kevin Durant (SF)

Early April Ankle - 08 / 03 / 23

Terrence Ross (SG)

Ques Sun Toe - 01 / 03 / 23

Darius Bazley (SF)

Prob Tues Acquired - 10 / 02 / 23

Kevin Durant (SF)

Prob Wed Knee - 10 / 02 / 23

T.J. Warren (SF)

Prob Tues Acquired - 10 / 02 / 23

Devin Booker (SG)

Out Thurs Rest - 08 / 02 / 23

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Sat Knee - 03 / 02 / 23

Boston

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Ques Sun Back - 24 / 03 / 23

Al Horford (C)

Prob Tues Back - 18 / 03 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Prob Tues Hip - 18 / 03 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Ques Fri Illness - 17 / 03 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Ques Sat Achilles - 17 / 03 / 23

Al Horford (C)

Prob Wed Back - 06 / 03 / 23

Payton Pritchard (PG)

Out indefinitely Heel - 06 / 03 / 23

Robert Williams III (C)

Prob Tues Hamstring - 03 / 03 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Ques Sun Ankle - 03 / 03 / 23

Mike Muscala (PF)

Ques Wed Knee - 28 / 02 / 23

Injuries

Phoenix

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Deandre Ayton (C)	Ques Sat	Hip - 18 / 03 / 23	0-2	0-1-1	+ -
Ayton has sat out the last three games with a right hip contusion, and it is unclear if he will be active on Saturday against the 76ers.
Torrey Craig (SF)	Prob Thurs	Heel - 15 / 03 / 23	0-0	0-0	+ -
Craig is dealing with left heel soreness, but it is not anticipated to impact his status against the Magic on Thursday.
Torrey Craig (SF)	Prob Tues	Heel - 14 / 03 / 23	0-1	1-0	+ -
Craig is hindered by a sore left heel, but it is anticipated that he will face the Bucks on Tuesday.
Kevin Durant (SF)	Early April	Ankle - 08 / 03 / 23	2-1	3-0	+ -
Durant is sidelined with a left ankle sprain, and he is expected to remain out of the lineup for at least three weeks.
Terrence Ross (SG)	Ques Sun	Toe - 01 / 03 / 23	5-1	4-2	+ -
Ross has been absent from the last two contests due to right toe soreness, and it is unknown if he will take the court against the Mavericks on Sunday.
Darius Bazley (SF)	Prob Tues	Acquired - 10 / 02 / 23	7-4	7-5	+ -
Bazley was acquired via a recent trade, but it is forecasted that he will suit up for his new team Tuesday versus the Kings.
Kevin Durant (SF)	Prob Wed	Knee - 10 / 02 / 23	7-4	7-5	+ -
Durant has been sidelined with an MCL sprain in his right knee, but he is expected to return to the court for Wednesday's battle with the Hornets.
T.J. Warren (SF)	Prob Tues	Acquired - 10 / 02 / 23	7-4	7-5	+ -
Warren was recently acquired through a trade, but it is expected that he will be available for Tuesday's clash with the Kings.
Devin Booker (SG)	Out Thurs	Rest - 08 / 02 / 23	8-4	7-6	+ -
Booker will not dress for Thursday's battle with the Hawks as he will be given a day of rest.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 03 / 02 / 23	9-5	8-7	+ -
Johnson missed the previous game while managing a knee injury, but it is anticipated that he will be in the lineup for Saturday's tilt against the Pistons.

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Ques Sun	Back - 24 / 03 / 23	1-3	2-2	+ -
Brogdon missed the previous match with left back pain, and it remains to be seen if he will lace up against the Spurs on Sunday.
Al Horford (C)	Prob Tues	Back - 18 / 03 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Horford missed the last contest with low back stiffness, but it is anticipated that he will play against the Kings on Tuesday.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Prob Tues	Hip - 18 / 03 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Smart sat out the last game with a left hip contusion, but it is projected that he will be active Tuesday versus the Kings.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Ques Fri	Illness - 17 / 03 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Smart is dealing with an illness, and it remains to be seen whether he will suit up Friday against the Trail Blazers.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Ques Sat	Achilles - 17 / 03 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Brogdon sat out the last game with right Achilles soreness, and it is undetermined if he will suit up Saturday against the Jazz.
Al Horford (C)	Prob Wed	Back - 06 / 03 / 23	3-2	3-2	+ -
Horford was held out of the previous contest due to lower-back stiffness, but he is expected to face the Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
Payton Pritchard (PG)	Out indefinitely	Heel - 06 / 03 / 23	3-2	3-2	+ -
Pritchard is dealing with a left heel injury, and there is no timetable for his return.
Robert Williams III (C)	Prob Tues	Hamstring - 03 / 03 / 23	3-3	4-2	+ -
Williams III has been sidelined due to a left hamstring strain, but he is expected to return against the Kings on Tuesday.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 03 / 03 / 23	3-3	4-2	+ -
Brogdon was held out of the previous contest due to right ankle soreness, and it is uncertain if he will face the Knicks on Sunday.
Mike Muscala (PF)	Ques Wed	Knee - 28 / 02 / 23	4-4	4-4	+ -
Muscala is nursing right knee tendinopathy, leaving his status for Wednesday's clash with the Cavaliers up in the air.