Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

Feb 3, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Saben Lee tries to cut off Boston Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

In something you hardly, if ever, want to hear in early February, the Boston Celtics decided to match the weather outside TD Garden on Friday night.

Back on their home parquet for the first time since Wednesday’s trouncing of Kyrie Irving and the Nets, the Celtics put forth one of their coldest shooting nights of the season and paid for it with a 106-94 loss to the Suns.

  • In what finished as a 29-for-75 shooting night for the Green, the Celtics’ 38.7 field goal percentage Friday night finished as their fourth-worst single-game performance of the season, and their worst since the team shot 38.6 percent in a Dec. 21 loss to the Pacers at home.

    And with connections on just 10 of their 38 tries from beyond the arc, Boston’s 26.3 percent success rate from three-point range also finished as their fourth-worst performance of the season, and was their worst since a 25.5 percent effort against the Magic back in December.

    This was about as ugly as got, even if a strong third-quarter push from the Celtics put themselves back within striking distance before the Suns put up a 32-spot in the fourth quarter to put the C’s to bed.

  • Feb 3, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shouts at a referee after being called for a technical foul against the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports

    Feb 3, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shouts at a referee after being called for a technical foul against the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at TD Garden. (Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports)

  • The shooting struggles were especially notable for Jayson Tatum, who managed to put up 20 points in the losing effort, but shot just 3-for-15 from the floor and 3-for-10 from deep.

    The 3-for-15 was Tatum’s worst shooting performance of the season, and his worst shooting performance since a 5-for-18 against the Heat over two months ago, and his night would’ve been downright disastrous had it not been for his 11-for-12 effort at the charity stripe.

    Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics with 27 points, but even Brown wasn’t immune to the shooting woes, as he connected on just three of his 12 three-point heaves.

    Mikal Bridges led the way for the Suns with a 25-point night outing, while both Deandre Ayton (14 points and 10 rebounds) and Dario Saric (14 points and 13 rebounds) posted double-doubles for Phoenix.

  • Feb 3, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7), forward Jayson Tatum (0) and center Robert Williams III (44) take the floor against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports

    Feb 3, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7), forward Jayson Tatum (0) and center Robert Williams III (44) take the floor against the Phoenix Suns at TD Garden. (Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports)

  • On the injury front, the Celtics remained without guard Marcus Smart due to an ankle injury. The Celtics are unsure if they’ll get Smart back in action before the upcoming All-Star break, which may be their way of saying that they’re not going to rush anything when it come to their defensive rock of the backcourt.

    The Celtics will get back to work Monday night in Detroit against the Pistons.

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