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

No Tatum, no Horford … no drawback.

After a disappointing additional time loss on the Golden State Warriors simply 21 hours earlier, the Boston Celtics had been proper again on the court docket Wednesday in Sacramento in opposition to a rested, wholesome Sacramento Kings staff driving a three-game win streak. Kristaps Porzingis returned to the beginning lineup, however the Celtics had been with out Al Horford (relaxation), Luke Kornet (adductor pressure) and Jayson Tatum (ankle sprain).

The Celtics bounced again from these difficult absences and grabbed a dominant 144-119 win, enhancing their file to 21-6. They regained the highest spot within the league by a half-game over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who misplaced in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jaylen Brown and Derrick White scored 28 factors every, Kristaps Porzingis added 24, Jrue Vacation 21 and Payton Pritchard 20. It was the primary time since 1987 that Boston had a quintet of 20-point scorers. The Celts made 22 of 42 threes and the Kings made 21 of 44 in an epic show of long-distance accuracy. Boston tallied 35 assists (10 by Vacation) on 51 baskets.

In the event you suppose NBA groups shoot too many three-pointers, you most likely didn’t like the primary quarter. The Kings instantly went on a tear, with Fox (29 factors on his twenty sixth birthday) and Keegan Murray combining for 5 three-pointers and 19 factors within the first 5 minutes. Boston responded behind two triples from White and three dunks from Brown. White made his third three after an Oshae Brissett offensive rebound to cap a 13-0 run and the Celtics had their first lead at 24-23.

The primary 12 minutes ended with Sacramento up 41-38. The Cs had been 8 of 12 from the arc (White 4-5 and Pritchard 3-4) whereas the Kings had been 11 of 21 (Fox 5-7).

The second quarter was extra of the identical, because the groups tied the NBA file of 28 mixed threes in a half. However Boston took a 74-66 lead into the break as a result of they stayed sizzling (55.1% capturing general) and the Kings cooled a bit (46.3%). White had 21 factors and Fox 26 to steer their respective groups. The Celtics additionally held a 30-18 rebound benefit.

Boston opened the third quarter with a 9-1 run to stretch the result in 14, highlighted by a five-point possession by Porzingis. KP hit a jumper, was fouled on a “reckless closeout” by Domantas Sabonis, and made the free throw, then was fouled once more and made two extra.

The Celts additionally turned up their protection, forcing a collection of Kings turnovers and misses. Brown, White and Vacation all chipped in well timed scoring, producing a 22-6 run within the first 5 minutes of the quarter. The lead was 96-72 and Kings coach Mike Brown known as his staff’s next-to-last timeout.

It didn’t assist a lot. The Celtics took the third quarter by 39-24, making 13 of twenty-two pictures. Brown had 15 and Porzingis 14 within the interval.

Within the fourth, Vacation, Pritchard and Sam Hauser merely saved making pictures, and the annoyed Kings known as their ultimate timeout with 8:26 remaining.

The Celtics now have two days off earlier than the Los Angeles double-dip: on the LA Clippers on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Japanese Customary Time and on the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day at 5:30 p.m. EST.