BOS

PHO

Derrick White scores 22, and a third-quarter blitz lifts the Celtics past the Suns 97-81

AP
Feb 24, 2026

PHOENIX (AP) Derrick White scored 22 points, Neemias Queta had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics used a big third quarter to beat the Phoenix Suns 97-81 on Tuesday night.

Sam Hauser shot 6 for 14, including 4 for 10 from 3-point range, to add 16 points and the Celtics - playing without All-Star Jaylen Brown (right knee contusion) - won their fourth in a row and for the ninth time in their last 10 games.

Baylor Scheierman had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Collin Gillespie had 15 points and Grayson Allen scored 14 as the Suns lost for the fourth time in their last five games. The Suns played without their top two scorers, Devin Booker (right hip strain) and Dillon Brooks (left hand fracture), who combined average nearly 46 points per game.

The Celtics led 50-46 at halftime but took control by outscoring the Suns 30-11 in the third quarter, including a 16-0 run.

The Celtics also held a huge advantage on the boards, outrebounding the Suns by 27, 61 to 34.

Celtics: At Denver on Wednesday night.

Suns: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

1st Quarter
BOS
Celtics
21
PHO
Suns
26

Time		Play	Score
12:00		Neemias Queta vs. Mark Williams (Collin Gillespie gains possession)
11:44		Royce O'Neale turnover (bad pass) (Baylor Scheierman steals)
11:38	+3	Derrick White makes three point running jump shot (Sam Hauser assists)	3-0
11:24	+3	Jalen Green makes three point stepback jump shot	3-3
11:04	+3	Sam Hauser makes three point jump shot (Derrick White assists)	6-3
10:52		Neemias Queta blocks Jalen Green's two point driving layup
10:50		Celtics defensive rebound
10:37		Derrick White misses three point jump shot
10:34		Ron Harper Jr. offensive rebound
10:33	+2	Ron Harper Jr. makes two point putback layup	8-3
10:12		Ron Harper Jr. personal foul (Collin Gillespie draws the foul)
10:07		Collin Gillespie misses two point driving floating jump shot
10:05		Derrick White defensive rebound
9:59		Baylor Scheierman misses three point jump shot
9:55		Mark Williams defensive rebound
9:40		Jalen Green misses two point pullup jump shot
9:37		Ryan Dunn offensive rebound
9:36	+2	Ryan Dunn makes two point putback layup	8-5
9:19		Derrick White misses two point fadeaway jump shot
9:16		Ron Harper Jr. offensive rebound
9:15		Ron Harper Jr. misses two point putback layup
9:14		Neemias Queta offensive rebound
9:14	+2	Neemias Queta makes two point tip dunk	10-5
9:01	+2	Jalen Green makes two point stepback jump shot (Collin Gillespie assists)	10-7
8:41		Derrick White turnover (bad pass) (Collin Gillespie steals)
8:36	+3	Royce O'Neale makes three point running jump shot (Ryan Dunn assists)	10-10
8:18		Baylor Scheierman misses three point jump shot
8:15		Derrick White offensive rebound
8:14		Ron Harper Jr. misses three point jump shot
8:07		Ryan Dunn defensive rebound
8:01		Baylor Scheierman personal foul (Jalen Green draws the foul)
7:48		Jalen Green misses three point pullup jump shot
7:45		Ryan Dunn offensive rebound
7:43	+2	Ryan Dunn makes two point putback layup	10-12
7:26		Mark Williams kicked ball violation
7:22		Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot
7:18		Sam Hauser offensive rebound
7:17		Ron Harper Jr. misses three point jump shot
7:13		Royce O'Neale defensive rebound
7:04		Mark Williams turnover (lost ball) (Ron Harper Jr. steals)
6:58		Baylor Scheierman misses three point jump shot
6:54		Mark Williams defensive rebound
6:42		Mark Williams misses two point driving hook shot
6:39		Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound
6:36		Derrick White misses three point running pullup jump shot
6:34		Sam Hauser offensive rebound
6:34		Sam Hauser misses two point tip layup
6:32		Ron Harper Jr. offensive rebound
6:18		Ron Harper Jr. misses two point driving floating jump shot
6:15		Collin Gillespie defensive rebound
6:06	+3	Collin Gillespie makes three point pullup jump shot (Ryan Dunn assists)	10-15
5:46	+2	Derrick White makes two point driving floating jump shot (Neemias Queta assists)	12-15
5:45		Suns 60 second timeout
5:27		Grayson Allen misses three point pullup jump shot
5:22		Jalen Green offensive rebound
5:21	+2	Jalen Green makes two point putback layup	12-17
5:08	+3	Jordan Walsh makes three point jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists)	15-17
4:48	+3	Ryan Dunn makes three point jump shot (Jalen Green assists)	15-20
4:23		Payton Pritchard misses two point turnaround jump shot
4:21		Jordan Walsh offensive rebound
4:17		Payton Pritchard misses three point jump shot
4:13		Ryan Dunn defensive rebound
3:56		Jalen Green misses three point stepback jump shot
3:52		Hugo Gonzalez defensive rebound
3:46	+2	Nikola Vucevic makes two point driving layup (Sam Hauser assists)	17-20
3:23		Jalen Green misses two point driving layup
3:21		Ryan Dunn offensive rebound
3:15		Jordan Walsh personal foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul)
3:06	+2	Grayson Allen makes two point driving floating jump shot (Oso Ighodaro assists)	17-22
2:54		Nikola Vucevic misses three point jump shot
2:51		Suns defensive rebound
2:51		Celtics 60 second timeout
2:43		Payton Pritchard personal foul (Oso Ighodaro draws the foul)
2:36	+2	Amir Coffey makes two point pullup jump shot (Oso Ighodaro assists)	17-24
2:22		Grayson Allen personal foul (Nikola Vucevic draws the foul)
2:11		Jordan Walsh misses two point fadeaway jump shot
2:08		Jamaree Bouyea defensive rebound
1:49		Amir Coffey misses two point pullup jump shot
1:43		Jordan Walsh defensive rebound
1:33	+2	Nikola Vucevic makes two point turnaround hook shot (Derrick White assists)	19-24
1:18		Grayson Allen misses three point pullup jump shot
1:14		Jordan Walsh defensive rebound
1:02	+2	Payton Pritchard makes two point pullup jump shot	21-24
0:52		Grayson Allen misses three point pullup jump shot
0:49		Nikola Vucevic defensive rebound
0:34		Payton Pritchard misses three point stepback jump shot
0:31		Ron Harper Jr. offensive rebound
0:28		Derrick White misses three point jump shot
0:25		Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
0:11		Ron Harper Jr. personal foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul)
0:11	+1	Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2	21-25
0:11	+1	Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2	21-26
0:01		Payton Pritchard misses two point driving reverse layup
0:01		Celtics offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Quarter
BOS
Celtics
29
PHO
Suns
20

Time		Play	Score
11:50		Oso Ighodaro personal foul (Nikola Vucevic draws the foul)
11:38		Rasheer Fleming personal foul (Baylor Scheierman draws the foul)
11:28		Baylor Scheierman turnover (lost ball) (Oso Ighodaro steals)
11:23		Amir Coffey misses two point running layup
11:22		Amir Coffey offensive rebound
11:22	+2	Amir Coffey makes two point tip layup	21-28
11:02	+2	Derrick White makes two point driving layup (Nikola Vucevic assists)	23-28
10:52		Derrick White blocks Collin Gillespie's three point pullup jump shot
10:49		Ron Harper Jr. defensive rebound
10:40	+2	Baylor Scheierman makes two point pullup jump shot (Ron Harper Jr. assists)	25-28
10:29		Baylor Scheierman shooting foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul)
10:29	+1	Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-29
10:29	+1	Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-30
10:12		Oso Ighodaro personal foul (Nikola Vucevic draws the foul)
10:10		Ryan Dunn personal foul (Derrick White draws the foul)
9:59		Nikola Vucevic misses two point turnaround hook shot
9:55		Derrick White offensive rebound
9:52		Nikola Vucevic misses two point layup
9:52		Royce O'Neale defensive rebound
9:40	+3	Royce O'Neale makes three point jump shot (Collin Gillespie assists)	25-33
9:21		Derrick White misses three point jump shot
9:17		Baylor Scheierman offensive rebound
9:16	+3	Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Baylor Scheierman assists)	28-33
8:59		Oso Ighodaro misses two point driving floating jump shot
8:57		Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound
8:41		Ron Harper Jr. misses three point jump shot
8:37		Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
8:32	+2	Collin Gillespie makes two point turnaround jump shot	28-35
8:28		Celtics 60 second timeout
8:06		Baylor Scheierman misses three point jump shot
8:04		Rasheer Fleming defensive rebound
7:57	+3	Collin Gillespie makes three point jump shot (Oso Ighodaro assists)	28-38
7:34		Payton Pritchard misses two point stepback jump shot
7:30		Collin Gillespie defensive rebound
7:18		Oso Ighodaro turnover (out of bounds bad pass)
6:57		Rasheer Fleming personal foul (Payton Pritchard draws the foul)
6:57	+1	Payton Pritchard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	29-38
6:57	+1	Payton Pritchard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	30-38
6:41	+3	Royce O'Neale makes three point pullup jump shot	30-41
6:22		Rasheer Fleming shooting foul (Payton Pritchard draws the foul)
6:22	+1	Payton Pritchard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	31-41
6:22	+1	Payton Pritchard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	32-41
6:04		Mark Williams misses two point alley-oop layup
6:02		Neemias Queta defensive rebound
5:52		Mark Williams blocks Payton Pritchard's two point driving layup
5:52		Celtics offensive rebound
5:46		Payton Pritchard misses three point jump shot
5:42		Jalen Green defensive rebound
5:31		Jalen Green misses three point stepback jump shot
5:28		Jordan Walsh defensive rebound
5:08	+3	Derrick White makes three point stepback jump shot	35-41
4:48		Grayson Allen turnover (bad pass) (Payton Pritchard steals)
4:38	+2	Neemias Queta makes two point cutting dunk (Derrick White assists)	37-41
4:38		Suns 60 second timeout
4:28		Jalen Green offensive foul (Jordan Walsh draws the foul)
4:28		Jalen Green turnover (offensive foul)
4:13	+2	Jordan Walsh makes two point driving dunk (Sam Hauser assists)	39-41
3:57		Royce O'Neale misses two point driving floating jump shot
3:53		Payton Pritchard defensive rebound
3:39	+3	Derrick White makes three point pullup jump shot (Sam Hauser assists)	42-41
3:23		Grayson Allen misses three point pullup jump shot
3:20		Payton Pritchard defensive rebound
2:58		Jamaree Bouyea personal foul (Neemias Queta draws the foul)
2:58	+1	Neemias Queta makes regular free throw 1 of 2	43-41
2:58	+1	Neemias Queta makes regular free throw 2 of 2	44-41
2:36		Jordan Walsh shooting foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul)
2:36	+1	Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 3	44-42
2:36	+1	Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 3	44-43
2:36	+1	Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 3 of 3	44-44
2:22		Neemias Queta misses two point alley-oop dunk
2:21		Neemias Queta offensive rebound
2:20	+2	Neemias Queta makes two point putback dunk	46-44
2:07		Jalen Green misses three point pullup jump shot
2:03		Neemias Queta defensive rebound
1:56		Payton Pritchard misses three point pullup jump shot
1:53		Grayson Allen defensive rebound
1:41		Grayson Allen misses two point turnaround jump shot
1:39		Payton Pritchard defensive rebound
1:31	+2	Derrick White makes two point pullup jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists)	48-44
1:07	+2	Jalen Green makes two point driving layup (Mark Williams assists)	48-46
0:49		Neemias Queta misses two point floating jump shot
0:46		Neemias Queta offensive rebound
0:46	+2	Neemias Queta makes two point putback dunk	50-46
0:33		Jalen Green misses three point stepback jump shot
0:28		Derrick White defensive rebound
0:10		Derrick White misses three point pullup jump shot
0:06		Grayson Allen defensive rebound
0:04		Neemias Queta personal foul (Take) (Grayson Allen draws the foul)
0:00		Grayson Allen misses three point pullup jump shot
0:00		Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

3rd Quarter
BOS
Celtics
30
PHO
Suns
11

Time		Play	Score
11:46		Sam Hauser misses three point pullup jump shot
11:42		Neemias Queta offensive rebound
11:41		Neemias Queta misses two point putback layup
11:41		Neemias Queta offensive rebound
11:38		Royce O'Neale blocks Neemias Queta's two point putback layup
11:38		Mark Williams defensive rebound
11:14		Collin Gillespie misses two point driving hook shot
11:11		Neemias Queta defensive rebound
11:07	+3	Sam Hauser makes three point running pullup jump shot (Derrick White assists)	53-46
10:56		Mark Williams offensive foul (Baylor Scheierman draws the foul)
10:56		Mark Williams turnover (offensive foul)
10:40	+2	Baylor Scheierman makes two point pullup jump shot (Neemias Queta assists)	55-46
10:30		Neemias Queta shooting foul (Jalen Green draws the foul)
10:30	+1	Jalen Green makes regular free throw 1 of 2	55-47
10:30	+1	Jalen Green makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-48
10:16	+2	Sam Hauser makes two point cutting layup (Neemias Queta assists)	57-48
9:52		Neemias Queta blocks Jalen Green's two point driving layup
9:52		Suns offensive rebound
9:48		Collin Gillespie misses three point jump shot
9:46		Derrick White defensive rebound
9:38		Royce O'Neale shooting foul (Neemias Queta draws the foul)
9:38	+1	Neemias Queta makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-48
9:38	+1	Neemias Queta makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-48
9:26		Collin Gillespie misses three point pullup jump shot
9:21		Sam Hauser defensive rebound
9:07	+2	Neemias Queta makes two point driving hook shot	61-48
8:52		Royce O'Neale misses two point driving hook shot
8:50		Mark Williams offensive rebound
8:50	+2	Mark Williams makes two point putback layup	61-50
8:35		Mark Williams blocks Neemias Queta's two point driving layup
8:34		Suns defensive rebound
8:34		Suns 60 second timeout
8:13		Jalen Green misses two point driving layup
8:11		Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound
8:06	+3	Sam Hauser makes three point jump shot (Derrick White assists)	64-50
7:51	+2	Jalen Green makes two point driving layup	64-52
7:41		Sam Hauser misses two point pullup jump shot
7:37		Mark Williams defensive rebound
7:16		Collin Gillespie turnover (lost ball) (Derrick White steals)
7:08		Derrick White misses two point driving floating jump shot
7:06		Derrick White offensive rebound
7:06		Baylor Scheierman turnover (out of bounds step)
6:54		Jamaree Bouyea misses three point pullup jump shot
6:51		Neemias Queta defensive rebound
6:41	+3	Sam Hauser makes three point jump shot (Derrick White assists)	67-52
6:18		Jalen Green misses three point jump shot
6:15		Neemias Queta defensive rebound
6:06	+2	Sam Hauser makes two point pullup jump shot (Derrick White assists)	69-52
6:04		Suns 60 second timeout
5:49		Grayson Allen misses three point pullup jump shot
5:46		Nikola Vucevic defensive rebound
5:41		Nikola Vucevic misses three point running jump shot
5:35		Jamaree Bouyea defensive rebound
5:25		Nikola Vucevic blocks Jalen Green's two point driving reverse layup
5:23		Derrick White defensive rebound
5:20		Sam Hauser misses three point running jump shot
5:18		Celtics offensive rebound
5:18		Oso Ighodaro personal foul (Loose ball) (Nikola Vucevic draws the foul)
5:04		Payton Pritchard misses two point floating jump shot
5:03		Celtics offensive rebound
5:03		Celtics turnover (shot clock violation)
4:52		Rasheer Fleming misses three point jump shot
4:49		Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound
4:45		Sam Hauser misses three point running jump shot
4:41		Jalen Green defensive rebound
4:34		Grayson Allen misses three point jump shot
4:30		Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound
4:20	+2	Baylor Scheierman makes two point cutting layup (Nikola Vucevic assists)	71-52
4:05		Oso Ighodaro misses two point driving floating jump shot
4:03		Hugo Gonzalez defensive rebound
3:55		Ron Harper Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:51		Suns defensive rebound
3:38		Jamaree Bouyea misses two point driving floating jump shot
3:35		Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound
3:14	+2	Nikola Vucevic makes two point turnaround jump shot	73-52
2:57		Rasheer Fleming misses three point jump shot
2:55		Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound
2:49		Nikola Vucevic misses three point jump shot
2:45		Baylor Scheierman offensive rebound
2:37		Payton Pritchard turnover (lost ball) (Jamaree Bouyea steals)
2:32		Ron Harper Jr. blocks Jamaree Bouyea's two point running layup
2:30		Hugo Gonzalez defensive rebound
2:26	+2	Hugo Gonzalez makes two point running layup	75-52
2:25		Suns 60 second timeout
2:10		Derrick White blocks Grayson Allen's two point driving layup
2:08		Hugo Gonzalez defensive rebound
2:04	+3	Ron Harper Jr. makes three point running jump shot (Derrick White assists)	78-52
1:48		Grayson Allen turnover (out of bounds lost ball)
1:42		Baylor Scheierman misses three point jump shot
1:39		Nikola Vucevic offensive rebound
1:39	+2	Nikola Vucevic makes two point tip layup	80-52
1:24	+3	Collin Gillespie makes three point pullup jump shot (Oso Ighodaro assists)	80-55
1:06		Nikola Vucevic turnover (bad pass) (Oso Ighodaro steals)
0:58		Oso Ighodaro misses two point floating jump shot
0:56		Nikola Vucevic defensive rebound
0:35		Nikola Vucevic misses two point driving hook shot
0:33		Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
0:24	+2	Oso Ighodaro makes two point cutting layup (Grayson Allen assists)	80-57
0:04		Grayson Allen personal foul (Take) (Derrick White draws the foul)
0:00		Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot
0:00		Celtics offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

4th Quarter
BOS
Celtics
17
PHO
Suns
24

Time		Play	Score
11:44		Grayson Allen misses three point pullup jump shot
11:43		Celtics defensive rebound
11:26		Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot
11:22		Rasheer Fleming defensive rebound
11:16	+2	Oso Ighodaro makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Collin Gillespie assists)	80-59
10:53		Derrick White misses three point pullup jump shot
10:51		Celtics offensive rebound
10:51		Celtics turnover (shot clock violation)
10:37	+2	Collin Gillespie makes two point stepback jump shot	80-61
10:23		Amir Coffey blocks Nikola Vucevic's two point cutting layup
10:23		Suns defensive rebound
10:08	+3	Grayson Allen makes three point pullup jump shot (Oso Ighodaro assists)	80-64
10:06		Celtics 60 second timeout
9:44		Payton Pritchard misses two point fadeaway jump shot
9:40		Grayson Allen defensive rebound
9:24		Derrick White shooting foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul)
9:24		Grayson Allen misses regular free throw 1 of 3
9:24		Suns offensive rebound
9:24	+1	Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 3	80-65
9:24	+1	Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 3 of 3	80-66
9:03		Derrick White misses three point pullup jump shot
8:59		Baylor Scheierman offensive rebound
8:48		Payton Pritchard turnover (traveling)
8:26		Royce O'Neale misses three point pullup jump shot
8:21		Jalen Green offensive rebound
8:17		Jalen Green misses three point jump shot
8:14		Neemias Queta defensive rebound
7:53	+2	Derrick White makes two point pullup jump shot	82-66
7:24	+2	Collin Gillespie makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Royce O'Neale assists)	82-68
7:00	+3	Ron Harper Jr. makes three point jump shot (Baylor Scheierman assists)	85-68
6:41		Rasheer Fleming misses three point jump shot
6:38		Payton Pritchard defensive rebound
6:20	+2	Derrick White makes two point driving floating bank jump shot	87-68
6:20		Collin Gillespie shooting foul (Derrick White draws the foul)
6:20		Derrick White misses regular free throw 1 of 1
6:14		Collin Gillespie defensive rebound
5:57		Derrick White blocks Ryan Dunn's two point driving dunk
5:55		Derrick White defensive rebound
5:51	+3	Baylor Scheierman makes three point jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists)	90-68
5:48		Suns 60 second timeout
5:28	+2	Amir Coffey makes two point pullup jump shot	90-70
5:12	+2	Baylor Scheierman makes two point driving layup	92-70
4:53		Koby Brea misses two point driving floating jump shot
4:48		Payton Pritchard defensive rebound
4:43		Ron Harper Jr. misses three point jump shot
4:38		Neemias Queta offensive rebound
4:24	+2	Payton Pritchard makes two point driving layup	94-70
4:08		Amir Coffey misses two point pullup jump shot
4:06		Khaman Maluach offensive rebound
4:05		Khaman Maluach misses two point turnaround hook shot
4:02		Neemias Queta defensive rebound
3:56		Celtics 60 second timeout
3:48		Payton Pritchard turnover (out of bounds bad pass)
3:30	+3	Koby Brea makes three point jump shot (Amir Coffey assists)	94-73
3:17		Luka Garza offensive foul (Khaman Maluach draws the foul)
3:17		Luka Garza turnover (offensive foul)
2:58		Jamaree Bouyea misses three point stepback jump shot
2:55		Khaman Maluach offensive rebound
2:51		Ryan Dunn misses two point turnaround hook shot
2:48		Luka Garza defensive rebound
2:33	+3	Luka Garza makes three point jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists)	97-73
2:20	+2	Khaman Maluach makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jamaree Bouyea assists)	97-75
2:20		Luka Garza shooting foul (Khaman Maluach draws the foul)
2:20		Khaman Maluach misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:17		Luka Garza defensive rebound
2:02		Jamaree Bouyea personal foul (John Tonje draws the foul)
1:54		Luka Garza misses three point jump shot
1:49		Ryan Dunn defensive rebound
1:40		John Tonje personal foul (Jamaree Bouyea draws the foul)
1:31	+3	Ryan Dunn makes three point jump shot (Koby Brea assists)	97-78
1:09		Luka Garza misses three point jump shot
1:05		Payton Pritchard offensive rebound
0:54		Payton Pritchard misses three point pullup jump shot
0:53		Celtics offensive rebound
0:53		Ryan Dunn personal foul (Loose ball) (Luka Garza draws the foul)
0:43		John Tonje misses three point jump shot
0:40		Luka Garza offensive rebound
0:39		Khaman Maluach blocks Luka Garza's two point turnaround hook shot
0:36		Jamaree Bouyea defensive rebound
0:30	+3	Khaman Maluach makes three point jump shot (Jamaree Bouyea assists)	97-81
0:03		Celtics turnover (shot clock violation)
0:00		End of period

Celtics turnover (shot clock violation)