Inside The Celtics

After Stinging Loss to Warriors, Boston, Back to 'Celtics' Basketball,' Blowout Kings

Five Celtics scored at least 20 points in Boston's 144-119 thrashing of the Kings.

Bobby Krivitsky

Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
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The Boston Celtics had little time to feel sorry for themselves for failing to close out the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. 

One night later, they had to contend with the Sacramento Kings' high-octane offense and do so without Jayson Tatum, who suffered a left ankle sprain in the loss in San Francisco.

Having to take the court a day later proved a positive, as the C's took out their frustrations at the Golden 1 Center.

They had five players produce at least 20 points. Derrick White and Jaylen Brown each put 28 on the board. The latter became the 16th player in franchise history to register 9,000 for his career.

Kristaps Porzingis had 24, nine rebounds, and six blocks. He was outstanding in the third frame, scoring 14 points and manufacturing multiple baskets from the mid-post.

Jrue Holiday contributed 21 points and a game-high ten assists. Payton Pritchard came off the bench to chip in 20, drilling 6/12 shots, including 6/11 threes.

Boston buried a season-high 22 of its 42 attempts from behind the arc (52.4 percent) as it snapped a four-game road losing streak. It also limited Sacramento to six made threes in the middle two periods and outscored the hosts 30-6 on the fast break.

Now for a deep dive into what stood out as the visitors got back to playing "Celtics basketball" in their 144-119 victory over the Kings.

1. Sam Hauser started in Jayson Tatum's absence, with the four-time All-Star sidelined by a left ankle sprain suffered in Tuesday's 132-126 loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Pregame, Celtics' head coach Joe Mazzulla provided an update on Tatum, sharing, "Sore. (It's) swollen. (He) got treatment on it. Take it day by day."

2. Boston got off to a slow start, struggling to keep up with the Kings, but then found its footing, staging a 13-0 run. That included a Kristaps Porzingis block that led to a Jaylen Brown jam and Brown collecting a kick-out pass from the former, then quickly making the extra pass, swinging the ball to Payton Pritchard to go from a good shot to a great one.

Pritchard missed the three, but the visitors grabbed the rebound, leading to Derrick White knocking down an attempt from beyond the arc.

3. After that, the rest of the first frame turned into a prize fight, with both sides going blow for blow the rest of the quarter.

The Kings, who led 41-38 after the first 12 minutes, drilled 11/21 (52.4 percent) threes. The Celtics went 8/12 (66.7 percent) from beyond the arc. Their 19 threes tied the NBA record for the most combined makes from three-point range in a quarter.

De'Aaron Fox put 17 points on the board, pacing all participants. Derrick White led Boston with 16.

4. While the C's limited Sacramento to 3/9 (33.3 percent) shooting from behind the arc, the hosts, who manufactured 12 points in the paint in the second frame, registered 66 by halftime. Unfortunately for them, the visitors had 74.

One of the keys fueling the latter's offense was that it consistently pushed the pace, leading to a 9-0 advantage in fast-break scoring. It was 16-2 through the first 24 minutes. Doing that against the Kings' high-octane attack makes that even more impressive.

5. There were also terrific hustle plays throughout the first half, exemplified by White and Brown combining to save the ball as it was going out of bounds, extending a Boston possession.

That led to effective ball movement, with the rock working its way to White, who buried a clean look at a three.

While Fox scored a game-high 26 points at the break, the former Colorado Buffalo led the Celtics with 21 points at intermission. 

Four of his teammates also reached double figures. Brown had 13 points and five assists. He became the 16th player in franchise history to score 9,000 career points.

Jrue Holiday had 11 of the former and six dimes, leading everyone in the latter. He also swiped a steal and swatted a shot.

Porzingis produced ten points, four rebounds, and three blocks in the first half of his return after missing Tuesday's tilt due to left calf strain injury management.

Pritchard provided a spark off the bench, chipping in 12 points on 4/7 shooting.

6. Boston, known for slow starts to the second half, went on a quick 7-0 burst at the start of the third quarter.

Fueling that was Porzingis getting Kevin Huerter on him in the mid-post, then facing up and knocking down one jumper after another. 

Even with Domantas Sabonis staying close to help contest the seven-foot-three center, sending a second defender couldn't get him out of rhythm.

There was a scary moment when Sabonis received a flagrant-1 for unintentionally sticking his foot under Porzingis after trying to contest the latter's shot. That sent the Latvian native to the floor, quickly reaching for his left calf.

Fortunately, he stayed in and continued to cook. He put 14 points on the board in the first 12 minutes after halftime, giving him 24 total. He also had six blocks.

7. The visitors also ripped off a 16-2 run, with Porzingis protecting the rim, including swatting two shots at the basket. And with the Celtics locked in defensively, consistently getting stops fueled their up-tempo attack.

They generated ten points in the paint and a 9-0 edge on the fast break by about the midway mark in the third frame.

8. Boston's defense limited Sacramento to five three-point attempts and three makes, helping hold the hosts to 24 points in the period.

Between that and Jaylen Brown uncorking fadeaway jumpers from the baseline and creating posters worthy of a spot in the Louvre, scoring 15 points in the period, giving him 28 through 36 minutes, the C's entered the final frame in command, leading 113-90.

9. That earned most of their starters the fourth quarter off, including Derrick White, who registered 28 points on 10/13 shooting and 6/9 from beyond the arc, seven assists, and four blocks in 29 minutes.

With Jrue Holiday scoring 21 points and Pritchard contributing 20 off the bench, Boston had five players produce at least 20 in a decisive bounce-back victory a day after a stinging loss to the Warriors.

10. The Celtics are on to a showdown against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday afternoon. That game will tip off at 3:30 EST.

Further Reading

Joe Mazzulla Assesses Celtics' Collapse vs. Warriors: 'Played with Great Purpose'

Shades of 2022 Finals as Celtics Can't Close vs. Warriors

Celtics Expected to be Active in the Buyout Market

Jaylen Brown Discusses Growing Leadership Role with Celtics: 'I've Embraced That'

Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'

Celtics Utilize Speed Advantage in Run Away Win vs. Magic: 'It Makes the Game Easier'

Derrick White Praises Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's Impact That 'Doesn't Show Up on the Stat Sheet'

Jayson Tatum Praises Kristaps Porzingis for Allowing Celtics to Spin the Dial Defensively

An Empowered Jaylen Brown Strives to Balance Scoring with Playmaking: 'I've Grown A Lot'

Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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