NBA: Led by Derrick White, Celtics roll over short-handed Suns

Derrick White scored 22 points, Neemias Queta recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and the visiting Boston Celtics cruised past a short-handed Phoenix Suns 97-81, extending their winning streak to four games.

Sam Hauser added 16 points, while Bailey Scheierman contributed 11 points and 11 rebounds in his third career double-double. Boston has now won nine of its last 10 games and sits a season-high 19 games above .500.

The Celtics trailed 41-30 at 6:41 of the second quarter before going on a dominant 50-11 run to take control, leading 80-52 on Nikola Vukevic's basket with 1:39 left in the third quarter.

For Phoenix, Collin Gillespie scored 15 points, Grayson Allen had 14, and Jalen Green added 13 points. The Suns were missing leading scorers Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks for the second consecutive game.

White and Hauser each made four 3-pointers for Boston. The Suns have now lost seven of their last 10 games. Boston has also won five straight in the series, including the last four matchups in Phoenix.

The Suns attempted a comeback with a 14-0 run late in the third and early fourth quarters to cut the deficit to 80-66 with 9:24 remaining. However, Scheierman’s corner 3-pointer extended the Celtics’ lead to 90-68 with 5:51 left.

Boston played without Jaylen Brown, sidelined with a knee contusion, and received only eight points from Payton Pritchard, who was 2 of 13 from the field. The Celtics outscored the Suns 30-11 in the third quarter, with Hauser contributing 13 points and three 3-pointers, while Phoenix struggled, hitting just 4 of 22 shots.

The Suns shot 36.7% overall and were 12 of 36 from three-point range. Boston dominated the boards 61-34, turning 22 offensive rebounds into 15 points.

Phoenix, coming off a season-low 77 points in a loss to Portland on Sunday, led 26-21 after the first quarter, with Green and Ryan Dunn scoring seven points each. Boston struggled from long range in the opening period, hitting just 3 of 15 shots.

Royce O’Neale’s third 3-pointer gave the Suns a 41-30 lead midway through the second quarter, but Boston answered with a 14-0 run capped by Queta’s two free throws to take a 44-41 lead.

-Field Level Media/Reuters