Suns-Celtics live updates: Phoenix faces tough road test without Kevin Durant

The Phoenix Suns (35-41) face the Boston Celtics (56-20) in the second of a three-game road trip on Friday, April 4, at 4:30 p.m. MST. The game will air on Arizona's Family (3TV in Phoenix).

The Suns have lost four straight games as they battle for the 10th and final play-in spot in the West. Phoenix is 11th in the conference, one game behind the Sacramento Kings (36-40), which face Charlotte (19-57) on April 4. The Suns are coming off a 133-123 loss to the Bucks on April 1.

Boston is second in the East and had a nine-game winning streak snapped on April 2 by the Miami Heat, 124-103. That streak included a blowout win over the Suns in Phoenix on March 26, 132-102.

The Celtics were without All-Star Jayson Tatum, who is back for the April 4 game, as is Bradley Beal for the Suns. Beal missed the previous eight games with a hamstring strain.

Check back with azcentral.com during today's game for live updates below.

Injury report: Kevin Durant out, Jaylen Brown available

Kevin Durant remains out with a sprained left ankle. He's back in Phoenix and won't join the team on the road trip that ends Sunday in New York. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said Durant is making "good progress," but hasn't done any on-court work yet.

Bradley Beal is set to play after missing eight games with a left hamstring strain. Two-way players Jalen Bridges and TyTy Washington Jr. also are listed out as they played for Phoenix's G League team, Valley Suns, in the G League playoffs. The Valley Suns were eliminated Thursday, April 3, by Stockton Kings.

Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown (right knee posterior impingement) has been upgraded from questionable to available for Friday's game.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns-Celtics live updates: Phoenix faces tough test minus Kevin Durant

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