Celtics Skeptic Finally Changes Tune After Impressive Win Vs. Suns
· Yahoo Sports
Celtics Skeptic Finally Changes Tune After Impressive Win Vs. Suns originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Phoenix Suns gave the Boston Celtics everything they could handle on Monday night, battling for a full 48 minutes and even taking the lead in the fourth quarter. Devin Booker erupted for 40 points, and for a while it looked like the Suns might pull off a major road upset at TD Garden.
Visit xsportfeed.quest for more information.
But to their credit, the Celtics didn't panic. They locked in and executed down the stretch, pulling away for a hard-fought 120-112 victory.
Jaylen Brown was the hero for Boston, as he's been so often this season. He scored a game-high 41 points, including 18 during the fourth quarter.
Jayson Tatum also looked good for the Celtics, finishing with 21 points.
ESPN NBA analyst Vince Goodwill has been skeptical of Boston this year, but he's finally starting to come around based on his comments during Tuesday's episode of "Get Up."
Any lingering skepticism for the Celtics?@VinceGoodwill is ready to tell @ShamsCharania it's time to make reservations in June in Boston? ☘️ pic.twitter.com/IgrL5plVgM
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 17, 2026
"I'm able to now say, Shams, let's make reservations for June in Boston," Goodwill told fellow analyst Shams Charania, channeling Brian Windhorst. "I'm ready to say it. I'm ready to say that I have confidence in the Celtics...I can see it happening."
Goodwill is impressed by how good Tatum has looked since returning from his Achilles injury and how well he and Brown have played together. Boston has won four of its five games where they both played, and in the one loss, Brown got ejected in the second quarter.
Goodwill also expects Joe Mazzulla's coaching ability and the championship experience of the Celtics' veterans to make a difference in the postseason.
The oddsmakers agree with Goodwill, as Boston is favored to win the Eastern Conference at FanDuel Sportsbook and has the second-best title odds behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.
More NBA: Celtics Superstar Joins Exclusive Company With Dominant Game Vs. Suns