Sizzling Celtics bounce back behind balanced scoring, dominate Kings 144-119

Sizzling Celtics bounce back behind balanced scoring, dominate Kings 144-119

Despite the absence of Jayson Tatum and Al Horford,

five Boston players scored 20 points or more and made 22 of 42 three-pointers.

No issue without Horford or Tatum.

The Boston Celtics were back on the floor on Wednesday in

Sacramento against a rested and healthy Sacramento Kings squad

that was riding a three-game winning streak,

following a disheartening overtime loss at the hands of

the Golden State Warriors just twenty-one hours earlier.

The Celtics were without Al Horford (rest), Luke Kornet (adductor strain),

and Jayson Tatum (ankle injury),

but Kristaps Porzingis was back in the starting lineup.

The Celtics improved to 21-6 after overcoming those difficult

absences with a commanding 144-119 victory.

After losing to the Philadelphia 76ers,

the Minnesota Timberwolves,

they took back the top spot in the league by a half-game.

Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Payton Pritchard,

and Kristaps Porzingis all scored twenty-eight points apiece.

For the first time since 1987, Boston had five players with 20 points or more.

In an incredible feat of long-distance accuracy,

the Kings made 21 of 44 threes and the Celts made 22 of 42.

Boston had 51 baskets with 35 assists (10 from Holiday).

If you thought that NBA teams were shooting too many three-pointers,

you most likely didn’t enjoy the opening frame.

With Fox (who scored 29 points on his 26th birthday) and

Keegan Murray combined for five three-pointers and 19 points in the opening five minutes,

the Kings were on a roll right away.

White’s two triples and Brown’s three dunks helped Boston fight back.

Following an offensive rebound by Oshae Brissett,

White sank his third three-pointer to complete a 13-0 run and give the Celtics their first lead at 24-23.

At the completion of the first twelve minutes, Sacramento led 41–38.

The Kings were 11 of 21 (Fox 5-7) while the Cs were 8 of 12 (White 4-5 and Pritchard 3-4) from the arc.

The teams tied the NBA record of 28 total three-pointers in a half in the second quarter.

However, Boston maintained their hot play (55.1% shooting overall)

and the Kings somewhat cooled (46.3%),

taking a 74-66 advantage into halftime.

Fox led his squad with 26 points,

while White led his team with 21. Additionally, the Celtics had a 30–18 rebounding lead.

Boston extended their advantage to 14 points in the third quarter

with a 9-1 run that was sparked by a five-point basket by Porzingis.

After hitting a jump shot and getting fouled by Domantas Sabonis during a “reckless closeout,”

KP made two free throws before getting fouled again.

The Celts also stepped up their defence,

which resulted in numerous misses and turnovers by the Kings.

With timely scoring from Brown, White,

and Holiday, the team scored 22 points in the opening five minutes of the quarter.

With a 96-72 lead, Kings coach Mike Brown called the final timeout of the game for his side.

It was not very helpful. The third quarter was won by the Celtics 39–24,

making 13 of 22 shots. Porzingis had 14 during that time, while Brown had 15.

Holiday, Pritchard, and Sam Hauser just kept scoring baskets in the fourth,

and with 8:26 left, the irate Kings called their last timeout.

Prior to their Los Angeles double-dip,

the Celtics will now have two days off: on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Eastern Standard Time against the LA Clippers and on

Christmas Day at 5:30 p.m. EST against the Los Angeles Lakers.

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