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The Sacramento Kings go to the Celtics for the 2nd and closing sport between them this season. The Celtics gained the primary assembly 144-119 in Sacramento on December 20. The Celtics have been 2-0 final season. They’re 191-119 all time towards the Kings and 103-33 at house. The Kings are taking part in on the second night time of again to again video games after taking part in in New York on Thursday. They’re 7-5 on the second night time of again to again video games.
The Celtics stay 1st within the East, 13 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 14.5 video games forward of third place Cleveland, 15 video games forward of 4th place Orlando, 15 video games forward of fifth place New York, and 17.5 video games forward of sixth place Miami. They’re 33-3 at house and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 21-7 towards Western Convention groups and have gained their final 3 video games.
The Kings are eighth within the very crowded West. They’re simply 1 sport behind sixth place Phoenix and seventh place New Orleans and a couple of video games behind fifth place Dallas. They’re half a sport forward of the ninth place Lakers, and a couple of.5 video games forward of tenth place Golden State. They’re 21-17 on the street and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 15-12 towards Japanese Convention groups and they’re coming off a loss of their final sport.
The Celtics are taking part in within the 2nd sport of a 3 sport house stand after a 6 sport street journey. They went 4-2 on the journey, beating Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans and Charlotte and shedding 2 video games to Atlanta. They beat the Thunder 135-100 within the first sport again at house. After this sport they may keep at house for 1 sport towards Portland. Then it’s one sport on the street in Milwaukee earlier than ending the season at house towards New York, Charlotte and Washington.
The Kings simply completed a 3-2 house stand, beating Philadelphia, Utah and the Clippers and shedding 2 video games to Dallas. That is the 2nd sport of a 4 sport street journey. They misplaced in New York on Thursday and can play at Brooklyn and Oklahoma Metropolis to complete up the street journey. They are going to end the season with 3 video games at house, internet hosting New Orleans, Phoenix, and Portland.
The Celtics have little to show. They’ve gained 60 video games and clinched house court docket benefit for the whole playoffs. I can think about that they may sit some gamers of their closing 6 video games to heal up some bumps and bruises earlier than the playoffs. Derrick White is out for this sport attributable to a low again contusion. Jaylen Brown is out with a left hand sprain. At the moment of the season, it’s exhausting to foretell who will play and who will begin. Who would have predicted level Jayson? I’m guessing that Sam Hauser will begin rather than Brown and Tatum will transfer to small ahead and Al Horford will begin on the 4. However, that’s only a guess.
The Kings are within the midst of a mad scramble within the West. There are simply 2 video games separating fifth place and ninth place. As with the Thunder loss to the Celtics, a crew can transfer from 1st to third or from the play-in to a assured berth or vice versa. Kevin Huerter is out with a shoulder damage and Malik Monk is out with a knee damage. Jordan Ford is questionable with a again damage.
Possible Celtics Starters
PG: Jrue Vacation
SG: Sam Hauser
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics Reserves
Oshae Brissett
Svi Mykhailiuk
Luke Kornet
Payton Pritchard
Jordan Walsh
Xavier Tillman
2 Approach Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Neemias Queta
Accidents/Out
Jaylen Brown (hand) out
Derrick White (again) out
Jaden Springer (knee) out
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Kings Starters
PG: De’Aaron Fox
SG: Keon Ellis
SF: Harrison Barnes
PF: Keegan Murray
C : Domantas Sabonis
Kings Reserves
Chris Duarte
Kessler Edwards
Colby Jones
Mason Jones
Alex Len
Trey Lyles
JaVale McGee
Davion Mitchell
Sasha Vezenkov
Two Approach Gamers
Jordan Ford
Jalen Slawson
Accidents/Out
Jordan Ford (again) questionable
Kevin Huerter (shoulder) out Malik Monk (knee) out
Head Coach
Mike Brown
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Ron Hoskins/NBAE through Getty Photos
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De’Aaron Fox
Photograph by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs De’Aaron Fox
Fox is averaging 26.3 factors, 4.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists and a couple of.0 steals per sport. He’s capturing 46.3% from the sector and 36% from past the arc. The Celtics might want to gradual him down and likewise deal with the ball as he’s at all times a menace to steal the ball.
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Kristaps Porzingis
Photograph by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Photos
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Domantas Sabonis
Photograph by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Photos
Kristaps Porzingis vs Domantas Sabonis
Sabonis has been taking part in very nicely in latest video games. He’s averaging 19.6 factors, 13.7 rebounds, and eight.3 assists per sport. He’s capturing 59.9% from the sector and 37.7% from past the arc. The Celtics have to preserve him out of the paint and off the boards and they should guard him each inside and on the perimeter.
Honorable Point out
Al Horford vs Keegan Murray
Murray is averaging 15.1 factors, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals per sport. He’s capturing 46.3% from the sector and 36.0% from past the arc. Murray could be very able to placing up numerous factors if not defended nicely. At the moment of the 12 months, it’s exhausting to guess who will play and who will begin if guys are out. It’s only a guess that Horford will begin right here.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is at all times the important thing to successful each sport. The Kings have a defensive ranking of 115.0 (seventeenth). The Celtics defensive ranking is 110.6, third within the league. The Celtics have to defend the paint because the Kings common 51.7 factors within the paint per sport. The Kings are 4th within the league with 38.8 three pointers tried per sport so the Celtics should additionally defend the perimeter. The Celtics have to tighten up their protection as that’s possible what’s going to win this sport.
Rebound – A lot of rebounding is effort and need. The Celtics must put out additional effort to seize the rebounds on each ends of the court docket. By doing so, they restrict the second likelihood factors and quick breaks for the Kings and likewise give themselves additional possessions. The Celtics are averaging 46.5 rebounds per sport to 43.9 rebounds per sport for the Kings. The Kings common 14.4 second likelihood factors per sport and they also must put out additional effort to beat the Kings to the boards and to restrict their second likelihood factors.
Focus and Effort – The Celtics want to remain centered on taking part in the correct method. They must give attention to shifting the ball fastidiously, on taking good pictures, on going after free balls and on taking part in as a crew. The Kings are nonetheless taking part in for positioning within the submit season and wish to keep away from the play-in so they are going to be centered and can play exhausting. The Celtics should play with elevated focus and energy in the event that they anticipate to beat the Kings on this one. Although the Celtics have secured their spot on the prime of the league, they nonetheless have to play as if they’re attempting to make the playoffs. They don’t wish to let their effort slack off going into the playoffs.
X-Components
House Courtroom Benefit – The Celtics have labored exhausting to get house court docket all through the playoffs. They should use house court docket benefit on this sport to provide them a lift. They’re taking part in in entrance of their very own followers and on their very own acquainted court docket whereas the Kings are taking part in on the street and have journey and a hostile crowd and street fatigue to distract them.
Officiating – Officiating can at all times be an x-factor. Each crew will name the sport in another way. Some will name each little factor and the sport can have no stream. Others will let loads go and allow them to play. Some crews favor the house crew whereas others name it evenly or have a private agenda. The Celtics want to regulate to how the sport is known as and never let the officers take away their focus.
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