Celtics get by the Suns

Phoenix — After seeing their 10-game winning streak snapped at 10 the day before, the Celtics made sure their losing run was as brief as mathematically possible.

They overcame an early hiccup, arising to douse the Suns, 99-85, Monday night. It was an important victory, moving them to 2-1 on their Western trip with the formidable Clippers and Denver remaining tonight and Friday, respectively.

"It's a great win," said Kemba Walker after moving to 11-2 on the heels of Sunday's defeat in Sacramento. "We're not going to win every night, but when you have opportunities to bounce back and learn from mistakes and you actually come out and do it, it just feels good. It lets you know about your team and the guys you're playing with.

"We have a special group and for us to not hang our heads on that loss yesterday and really come out tonight and play against a really good team, here at home, and come out with a win, that was big-time... We didn't want to lose that game, obviously a one-point loss. They deserved to win that game, but it was about us coming out tonight and just putting that loss behind us. Like I said, we have a group of special guys who really want to win and I think we showed that tonight."

There may have been another win within this game, as the sprained ankle Marcus Smart suffered in the fourth quarter does not seem serious. He left 2:48 into the period, and it was announced by the team that he was done for the night. But Smart appeared to be moving fairly well afterward.

"The ankle is OK," he said. "There wasn't a lot of swelling. Minimal swelling for it where I'm able to walk. I'm able to still shift and plant and move side to side, so that's good. I just re-irritated the exact same ankle I was just coming back from, in the exact same spot. But everything is OK. I should be fine to play the rest of the trip. I turf-toed it. Like, my toe just got caught on the floor. Everything else just went with it."

Marcus being Marcus, he was prepared to re-enter this one.

"I probably would have came back out there if this was a tight game," he said. "(But) six years in, my body ain't like it used to be.

"If there was a game (Tuesday), I definitely would play, for sure. But better to be safe than sorry. They're still working on it, so we don't risk anything. We've got a day off, get the treatment I need, and be ready for the next game."

Jayson Tatum had 14 of his season-high 26 points in the third quarter when the Celtics were expanding their lead to 19. Walker had 19, Smart 17 and Jaylen Brown 14. Brad Wanamaker added 10 off the bench.