Boston Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis (8) celebrates his 3-pointer, subsequent to Sacramento Kings’ Harrison Barnes (40) in the course of the first half of an NBA basketball recreation Friday, April 5, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photograph/Michael Dwyer)
BOSTON — Payton Pritchard had 21 factors, together with 5 3-pointers and the Boston Celtics held off a late cost to beat the Sacramento Kings 101-100 on Friday evening within the NBA.
Kristaps Porzingis added 20 factors and 11 rebounds – his second straight double-double – to assist the NBA’s high staff Celtics declare its twelfth consecutive win at house one recreation after clinching home-court benefit all through the playoffs. They’ve received 13 of their final 15.
De’Aaron Fox had 40 factors for the Kings and banked in a go-ahead 26-footer with 27 seconds to play. However after Celtics reserve Xavier Tillman put Boston again in entrance, Fox misfired on a jumper – considered one of three potential game-winning photographs for the Kings within the closing 7 seconds because the Celtics survived.
massive bucket pic.twitter.com/F52bkwmlid
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 6, 2024
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla rested his starters all through the fourth quarter and left his reserves on the ground late.
“It’s good for our staff chemistry — these sorts of moments,” Porzingis stated. “And seeing Joe all overrated on the sidelines. It was fairly cool. A superb win for us.”
Domantas Sabonis added 16 factors and 16 rebounds for the Kings, who’ve misplaced 4 of their final six as they attempt to keep away from a spot within the play-in match.
“Fox was phenomenal, particularly down the stretch with him having 40. … He stepped up like he ought to have. Gave us an opportunity to win,” Kings coach Mike Brown stated. “We did simply didn’t shoot the ball properly.”
For the sport, Sacramento shot simply 38% (38 for 99) and was 17 for 51 (33%) from the 3-point line.
Sabonis stated they missed an awesome alternative to maneuver up within the tight Western Convention race.
“We let one slide,” Sabonis stated. “We had an opportunity to return again and steal a recreation from them and we couldn’t. … We’ve 5 video games left and Brooklyn’s subsequent. We’ve acquired to care for enterprise.”
The Kings lower a 19-point fourth deficit to 99-97 on a driving layup by Fox.
Colby Jones blocked Pritchard’s jumper on Boston’s subsequent possession, adopted by Fox’s 3-pointer that gave Sacramento its first lead because the first quarter.
Sam Hauser had his quick jumper blocked by Keegan Murray on the Celtics’ ensuing possession. However Tillman was capable of corral it and rating to place Boston again in entrance for good.
The Kings trimmed a 16-point first-half deficit to 54-50 by halftime, however the Celtics outscored them 30-22 within the third quarter to take a 12-point result in the fourth.
Each groups struggled to attain within the first five-plus minutes of the sport. Boston began simply 1 for 10 from the sector and Sacramento opened 1 for 8.
The Celtics discovered their contact, ending the primary quarter by connecting on 9 of their closing 10 photographs. The Kings completed 5 of 21.
Boston’s lead reached double-digits within the second quarter, however it wanted each a part of the basket at occasions to get it there. Throughout one possession, Payton Pritchard fired up a deep 28-footer from past the highest of the important thing. The ball bounced excessive off the again of the rim, clipped the entrance lip after which rolled off the glass earlier than falling in.
Boston was with out starters Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
Brown sat with the sprained left hand that additionally saved him out of Monday’s win over Charlotte. Brown known as it a ligament-related situation and acknowledged it was bothering him throughout Wednesday’s victory over Oklahoma Metropolis. Coach Joe Mazzulla stated that Friday’s absence was about managing the difficulty and that he didn’t anticipate Brown being sidelined for the remainder of the common season.
White, who has began 70 of Boston’s 77 video games this season, was out with a bruised decrease again.
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NEXT SCHEDULE
Kings: At Nets on Sunday.
Celtics: Host Path Blazers on Sunday.
