Jaylen Brown's 41-point effort pushes Celtics past Suns

Boston star scores career-high in points to lead comeback win over Phoenix

Mar. 17, 2026 at 8:10am

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Jaylen Brown scored a career-high 41 points, including 19 made free throws, to lead the Boston Celtics to a 120-112 victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns. The Celtics also received strong contributions from Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard, who combined for 60 points. Devin Booker led the Suns with 40 points in the losing effort.

Why it matters

This was an important win for the Celtics, who are jockeying for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. Brown's dominant performance showed why he is considered one of the top young stars in the NBA. The loss was a setback for the Suns, who are trying to maintain their position atop the Western Conference standings.

The details

The Suns jumped out to an early 8-0 lead, but the Celtics responded with a 10-0 run to take a 23-20 lead at the end of the first quarter. Boston then scored the first nine points of the second quarter to go up 40-32, and led 65-61 at halftime. The Celtics extended their lead to as many as 12 points in the third quarter, but the Suns fought back to make it a one-possession game late. However, Brown's putback with 2:30 remaining gave Boston the lead for good, and they held on for the victory.

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

The players

Jaylen Brown

A 26-year-old All-Star forward for the Boston Celtics, known for his scoring ability and two-way play.

Jayson Tatum

A 28-year-old All-NBA forward for the Boston Celtics, who forms a dynamic duo with Jaylen Brown.

Devin Booker

A 29-year-old All-NBA guard for the Phoenix Suns, one of the league's premier scorers.

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What they’re saying

“Jaylen Brown was a monster tonight. He took over the game when we needed him most.”

— Jayson Tatum, Celtics Forward (statenews.net)

“We had our chances, but couldn't finish it off. Hats off to the Celtics, they made the plays down the stretch.”

— Devin Booker, Suns Guard (statenews.net)

What’s next

The Celtics will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Suns will try to bounce back in their next game as they aim to maintain their position atop the West.

The takeaway

Jaylen Brown's career night showed why he is one of the NBA's rising stars, and the Celtics' balanced attack proved too much for the Suns to overcome. This was an important win for Boston as they jockey for playoff positioning, while Phoenix missed an opportunity to gain ground in the West.