In a thrilling matchup, the Boston Celtics edged out the Sacramento Kings 101-100, extending their winning streak at home to an impressive 12 games. Payton Pritchard led the charge for the Celtics with 21 points, showcasing his sharpshooting skills with five successful 3-pointers.
Kristaps Porzingis contributed significantly with 20 points and 11 rebounds, marking his second consecutive double-double. The Celtics, currently the top team in the NBA, secured home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and have now won 13 of their last 15 games.
The Kings, despite a remarkable performance from De’Aaron Fox, who scored 40 points, fell short in the closing moments of the game. Fox’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 27 seconds left seemed to give Sacramento the edge, but a clutch play from Celtics’ reserve Xavier Tillman turned the tide in Boston’s favor.
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla’s decision to rest his starters in the fourth quarter paid off, as the reserves showed great chemistry and composure in crucial moments. Porzingis praised the team’s performance, highlighting the importance of such wins for team morale.
On the other side, Kings coach Mike Brown commended Fox for his outstanding effort but lamented his team’s poor shooting performance, especially from the 3-point line, where they only converted 33% of their attempts.
Despite the loss, Domantas Sabonis put up a strong performance for the Kings, finishing with 16 points and 16 rebounds. However, he expressed disappointment at missing an opportunity to climb higher in the competitive Western Conference standings.
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The Kings now have five games left in the regular season, with a crucial matchup against the Brooklyn Nets next on their schedule. Sabonis emphasized the importance of bouncing back and focusing on securing victories in their remaining games.
The Celtics started the game slowly, shooting just 1 for 10 from the field, but found their rhythm towards the end of the first quarter. They capitalized on their scoring opportunities, finishing the quarter with a comfortable lead.
Despite missing key starters Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, the Celtics showed resilience and depth, relying on their bench players to secure the hard-fought victory. Coach Mazzulla expressed confidence that Brown’s absence was only precautionary and that he would return soon.
Overall, the Celtics’ win against the Kings showcased their strength as a team and their ability to perform under pressure, further solidifying their position as a top contender in the NBA.
