Before Thursday’s game against the Celtics, Suns star Kevin Durant recognized his place in the league. At 35 years old, the future Hall of Famer is still at the top of his game. But he knows who’s next.

“I’ve been in this league a long time now, I know when it’s a passing of the guard,’ Durant said.

Durant was talking about Jayson Tatum, but it could have extended to Jaylen Brown, too. On Thursday night, the Celtics’ stars showed again why right now should be their time.

Brown scored 37 points, Tatum added 26 and the shorthanded Celtics – without Kristaps Porzingis – flexed their muscle on the Suns. They torched them from 3-point land. Al Horford even outscored Durant as the Celtics grabbed their fourth consecutive victory and second win over the Suns in a week with a 127-112 blowout at TD Garden.

Horford turned back the clock again with 24 points as he matched a career high with six 3-pointers as the Celtics crushed the Suns from distance by matching a season high with 25 3-pointers. Durant scored 20 points for the Suns, but only five after a 15-point first quarter, while Devin Booker had 23 points, Bradley Beal had 22 and Grayson Allen chipped in 20. Despite the Suns having four 20-point scorers, the Celtics still won by 15.