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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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Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving posts up.
Kyrie Irving put the Boston Celtics on his back, carrying them to a come-from-behnd victory. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No more talk, the time for action is now for the Celtics.

Much had been said about this Boston Celtics team before the season began. Talks of ruling the Eastern Conference for years to come and a NBA Finals berth was all but guaranteed for them, even before they played a single game – this team was given all the praise it could handle.

However, the Boston Celtics, most notably the star studded starting five, have struggled immensely with establishing any sort of offensive consistency thus far into the season.

The Celtics opened this game cold and barely managed to put up 35 points as a team by halftime.

Kyrie Irving shot 3-for-10 from the field for 13 points in the first half and was the only member of the starting five to register a single point in the first half.

Jayson Tatum was uncharacteristically invisible for large portions of the game. In fact, head coach Brad Stevens benched Tatum to start the second half in favor of Marcus Smart‘s defensive energy and effort. Tallying his first box score statistic ( a defensive rebound) with three minutes left in the third quarter, Tatum would go on to finish the game with 4 points on 1-for-7 shooting from the field.

The second half started off not much better for the Celtics but they began to show signs of life through the play of Jaylen Brown , who began to drive the ball to the basket and attack the paint.

Brown finished the game with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including a huge three to take the lead for good in overtime. Once they began to gain traction, the Celtics hopped on the shoulders of Kyrie Irving, who scored 20 points in the second half, and had this key steal and assist late.

With the game on the line, Kyrie was able to draw a double and pass to Marcus Morris, who once again came through in the clutch, sending the game to overtime.

In overtime, the Celtics continued to ride the hot hand of Kyrie Irving, who scored 6 points in the period along with 2 crucial assists, a steal and a block on their way to a victory in Phoenix.

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