Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks the ball over Sacramento Kings ahead Keegan Murray throughout the first quarter of an NBA basketball recreation in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. (AP Photograph/Randall Benton)
SACRAMENTO, California — Jaylen Brown and Derrick White every scored 28 factors and the short-handed Boston Celtics bounced again from a disappointing loss at Golden State with a 144-119 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday evening.
Boston blew a 17-point lead earlier than dropping to the Warriors in time beyond regulation Tuesday evening and performed with out main scorer Jayson Tatum (ankle) and massive man Al Horford (relaxation) in opposition to the rested Kings.
However the Celtics seemed just like the far brisker group and rolled to their sixth win in seven video games.
JB DROPS THE HAMMER 🔨 https://t.co/YCfW4g4rx3 pic.twitter.com/NWaOM2qzbK
— NBA (@NBA) December 21, 2023
“It’s an extended 12 months. You must have the right perspective,” coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned. “In fact, we’re not going to be pleased if we lose. The wonderful thing about taking part in 82 video games is you get an opportunity to shake it off the following day.”
Kristaps Porzingis, who missed the sport in opposition to Golden State due to a calf damage, dominated the inside for Boston with 24 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 blocked pictures.
The shooters led by White did the remaining because the Celtics made 22 of 42 3-pointers after lacking 41 of 58 makes an attempt from lengthy vary within the loss to the Warriors.
“We had nice shooters lacking wide-open seems,” White mentioned. “You simply should belief that for those who proceed to get seems individuals will knock them down. We have been capable of make them in the present day like we weren’t yesterday. That’s simply the secret.”
Fadeaway JAY🎯 pic.twitter.com/IEGCcOJHdK
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 21, 2023
De’Aaron Fox scored 29 factors on his twenty sixth birthday to guide the Kings, who had gained three straight video games.
The groups received off to a fast-shooting begin with the Kings making 11 3-pointers within the first quarter and the Celtics answering with eight to tie for probably the most mixed 3s ever in 1 / 4 with a Mavericks-Warriors recreation from 2019. Sacramento led 41-38 after one.
However because the 3s stopped falling for the Kings, the Celtics began to take management. They made six extra 3s within the second quarter because the 28 mixed first-half 3s additionally tied the NBA report for a half set in that 2019 recreation.
Sacramento made solely 10 3s within the closing three quarters after making 11 within the first.
“We simply sort of made an adjustment, simply being there on the catch,” White mentioned. “They play quick. They received numerous gifted gamers. We stepped as much as the problem.”
Boston opened up a 21-point lead within the third quarter when White and Jrue Vacation hit back-to-back 3s round a blocked shot by Porzingis.
Brown’s dunk over Trey Lyles expanded the result in 28 factors late within the third for Boston. The Celtics coasted from there to their fifth straight win over the Kings.
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“That was an excellent previous vogue butt kicking,” Kings coach Mike Brown mentioned. “Give the Celtics rather a lot credit score particularly coming off a back-to-back. They for certain didn’t seem like the group that was ready on us right here.”
UP NEXT
Celtics: At Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
Kings: Host Phoenix on Friday evening.