Jaylen Brown and Derrick White led the way with 28 points each as the Boston Celtics, despite missing key players, secured a resounding 144-119 win over the Sacramento Kings during Tuesday night’s NBA action.
The victory was a strong response to their recent overtime loss against the Golden State Warriors, and the Celtics triumphed without Jayson Tatum and Al Horford.
Boston’s refreshed approach was evident as they claimed their sixth win in seven games. Coach Joe Mazzulla emphasized the importance of perspective over the long NBA season and the opportunity for quick redemption in the league’s busy schedule.
“It’s a long year. You have to have the proper perspective,” Mazzulla said. “Of course, we’re not going to be happy if we lose. The great thing about playing 82 games is you get a chance to shake it off the next day.”
Kristaps Porzingis, returning from a calf injury, had a standout game with 24 points, nine rebounds, and six blocks, dominating the interior for the Celtics. Boston’s sharpshooters, led by White, bounced back impressively, shooting 22-42 from beyond the arc, a significant improvement from their previous outing against the Warriors.
“We had great shooters missing wide-open looks,” White said. “You just have to trust that if you continue to get looks people will knock them down. We were able to make them today like we weren’t yesterday. That’s just the name of the game.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings Updates
De’Aaron Fox, celebrating his 26th birthday, topped the scoring for the Kings with 29 points. Despite Sacramento’s strong start, which included tying an NBA record for combined three-pointers in a quarter, their long-range shooting cooled off as the game progressed.
The Celtics capitalized on this, extending their lead with a solid shooting performance. White highlighted defensive adjustments and the team’s ability to rise to the challenge against the Kings’ fast-paced play.
“We just kind of made an adjustment, just being there on the catch,” White said. “They play fast. They got a lot of talented players. We stepped up to the challenge.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings Updates
A key moment came in the third quarter when Boston extended their lead to 21 points, punctuated by Brown’s emphatic dunk over Trey Lyles. The Celtics maintained control, marking their fifth consecutive victory over the Kings. Sacramento coach Mike Brown acknowledged Boston’s superior performance, especially considering their back-to-back schedule.
“That was a good old fashion butt kicking,” Brown said. “Give the Celtics a lot of credit, especially coming off a back-to-back. They for sure didn’t look like the team that was waiting on us here.”
Looking ahead, the Celtics are set to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, while the Kings will host the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
