BOSTON (AP) — 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 night time.
Kristaps Porzingis added 20 factors and 11 rebounds – his second straight double-double – to assist the NBA’s high group declare its twelfth consecutive win at residence one sport after clinching home-court benefit all through the playoffs. They’ve gained 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 – one in every of three potential game-winning photographs for the Kings within the last 7 seconds because the Celtics survived.
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 group chemistry — these sorts of moments,” Porzingis stated. “And seeing Joe all overrated on the sidelines. It was fairly cool. 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 event.
“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 nicely.”
For the sport, Sacramento shot simply 38% (38 for 99) and have been 17 for 51 (33%) from the 3-point line.
Sabonis stated they missed an amazing alternative to maneuver up within the tight Western Convention race.
“We let one slide,” Sabonis stated. “We had an opportunity to come back again and steal a sport from them and we couldn’t. … We have now 5 video games left and Brooklyn’s subsequent. We’ve obtained to maintain enterprise.”
The Kings reduce 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 brief jumper blocked by Keegan Murray on the Celtics’ ensuing possession. However Tillman was in a position to 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 last 10 photographs. The Kings completed 5 of 21.
Boston’s lead reached double-digits within the second quarter, but it surely wanted each a part of the basket at instances 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 high off the back 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 subject 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.
UP NEXT
Kings: At Nets on Sunday.
Celtics: Host Path Blazers on Sunday.
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