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Boston Celtics Find Oasis in Phoenix Late, Defeat Suns 116-109

By Mujeeb Ahmed

PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 08: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics controls the ball off a turnover against the Phoenix Suns during overtime of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 8, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Celtics defeated the Suns 116-109 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 08: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics controls the ball off a turnover against the Phoenix Suns during overtime of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 8, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Celtics defeated the Suns 116-109 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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 On the verge of defeat, the Boston Celtics leaned on star point guard Kyrie Irving to defeat the Phoenix Suns in overtime, 116-109.

The Boston Celtics continued their search for their first win on this road trip in the desert against the putrid, 2-8 Phoenix Suns. And if it weren’t for Kyrie Irving’s stubborn pursuit of victory, they’d probably still be looking.

After trailing by as many as 22 points, and 17 points midway through the fourth quarter, Irving led a spectacular fourth quarter comeback, laying a perfect pass to Marcus Morris, a vengeful former Sun, who drilled a three on the final play of regulation to force overtime. The Celtics prevailed in overtime, 116-109.

After dropping the first two games of the road trip, largely due to spectacular play from the opposing guards like Victor Oladipo and the latest to draw the ire of Celtics fans, Jamal Murray, the Celtics had their work cut out for them facing the electrifying Suns’ guard Devin Booker.

The first two and a half quarters were disastrous for the Celtics, missed jump shot after missed jump shot, missed layup after missed layup and telegraphed play after telegraphed play.

It felt as if every botched Celtics possession, the Suns’ scoring duo of Devin Booker and T.J. Warren lit the Celtics defense up, scoring 38 and 29 points, respectively, on a combined 50 percent shooting.

Most teams would lose a game in which they fail to defend and fail to convert offensive opportunities, but most teams do not have Kyrie Irving on their team who can decide to takeover a basketball game on mere whim.

And that is exactly what Irving did, scoring a season-high 39 points on 13-of-28 shooting from the field.

https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1060750005198217216

Yet somehow the Celtics pulled off a win and in the end, it’s all that matters.

However, the story tonight and going forward in the short term needs to be about what this team needs to improve upon to avoid calling upon Kyrie to summon Uncle Drew against the bottom dwellers of the league.

Let’s take a look at what the Celtics can take from this game moving forward.

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