Boston @ Phoenix preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 2, 2017 ) Phoenix 111, Boston 116

Despite a rash of injuries, the Boston Celtics still have life in the race for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics look to remain perfect on their four-game road trip and win their fourth straight overall contest when they visit the league-worst Phoenix Suns on Monday.

Behind a career-high 33 points on 12-of-16 shooting by Terry Rozier, Boston rolled to a 104-93 victory - its 50th of the season - at Sacramento on Sunday and pulled within 3 1/2 games of first-place Toronto, which faces the Celtics twice in its next four contests. "When the pieces start coming back and the puzzle comes together, hopefully we can make a really deep run and try to get to the finals," guard Jaylen Brown told reporters after Boston improved to 26-10 on the road. The Suns have lost 11 in a row and are the only team with fewer wins at home (nine) than on the road (10). They are sitting in the NBA basement, one-half game behind Memphis with eight to play.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBCS Boston, FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE CELTICS (50-23): Rozier made eight 3-pointers - one shy of matching the franchise record - on 12 attempts Sunday while recording a career-high five steals. "Once you hit a couple, it looks like an ocean," Rozier told reporters of his hot shooting, which gave him a 43.2 percent mark from long range this month. Boston also was bolstered by the return of Brown, who had missed his previous six games due to a concussion before recording 19 points in 25 minutes against the Kings.

ABOUT THE SUNS (19-55): Phoenix has been held under 100 points in four of its last five games, the last three of which were played without leading scorer Devin Booker (hand). The 21-year-old star is expected to return Monday and face the Celtics, against whom he scored 70 points in a road contest last season and piled up 38 in the first meeting this campaign. The Suns play six of their final eight games against teams with winning records.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Celtics PF Al Horford is 3-for-3 from beyond the arc over his last two games after going 3-for-13 in his previous seven contests.

2. Suns SF TJ Warren (knee) has missed the last three games and is day-to-day.

3. Six Boston players scored at least 13 points in a 116-111 home win over Phoenix earlier this season.

PREDICTION: Celtics 105, Suns 102