Celtics Outlast Suns 120-112 Behind Jaylen Brown's 41 Points

Boston star scores 18 of his game-high points in the fourth quarter to lead Celtics to victory.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 3:21am

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The Boston Celtics defeated the Phoenix Suns 120-112 on Monday night, with Jaylen Brown leading the way with a game-high 41 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter. Jayson Tatum added 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists for the Celtics, who improved to 45-23 on the season. Devin Booker scored 40 points for the Suns in the losing effort.

Why it matters

The Celtics' victory over the Suns keeps them well ahead of preseason projections and solidifies their position as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Jaylen Brown's performance also moves him closer to cracking the top 10 all-time scorers in Celtics history.

The details

Jaylen Brown shot a career-high 21 free throws and also recorded a steal late in the fourth quarter that led to a Jayson Tatum layup, helping the Celtics pull away from the Suns. Derrick White added 21 points and 5 three-pointers for Boston, while Payton Pritchard chipped in 19 points off the bench. For the Suns, Devin Booker scored 40 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Celtics' balanced attack.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 17, 2026.

The players

Jaylen Brown

A star player for the Boston Celtics who scored a game-high 41 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter, to lead his team to victory.

Jayson Tatum

A key player for the Boston Celtics who contributed 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in the win over the Suns.

Devin Booker

A star player for the Phoenix Suns who scored 40 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game showcases the Celtics' depth and ability to win close games, as they were able to pull away from the Suns in the fourth quarter behind Jaylen Brown's dominant performance. The Celtics' strong start to the season has them well-positioned for a deep playoff run.