The Sacramento Kings go to the Celtics for the 2nd and closing recreation between them this season. The Celtics received the primary assembly 144-119 in Sacramento on December 20. The Celtics have been 2-0 final season. They’re 191-119 all time in opposition to the Kings and 103-33 at house. The Kings are taking part in on the second evening of again to again video games after taking part in in New York on Thursday. They’re 7-5 on the second evening 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 in opposition to Western Convention groups and have received their final 3 video games.
The Kings are eighth within the very crowded West. They’re simply 1 recreation behind sixth place Phoenix and seventh place New Orleans and a pair of video games behind fifth place Dallas. They’re half a recreation forward of the ninth place Lakers, and a pair of.5 video games forward of tenth place Golden State. They’re 21-17 on the highway and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 15-12 in opposition to Jap Convention groups and they’re coming off a loss of their final recreation.
The Celtics are taking part in within the 2nd recreation of a 3 recreation house stand after a 6 recreation highway 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 recreation again at house. After this recreation they may keep at house for 1 recreation in opposition to Portland. Then it’s one recreation on the highway in Milwaukee earlier than ending the season at house in opposition to 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 recreation of a 4 recreation highway journey. They misplaced in New York on Thursday and can play at Brooklyn and Oklahoma Metropolis to complete up the highway 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 received 60 video games and clinched house courtroom benefit for your complete 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 recreation on account of a low again contusion. Jaylen Brown is out with a left hand sprain. Presently of the season, it’s laborious 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 workforce 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 harm and Malik Monk is out with a knee harm. Jordan Ford is questionable with a again harm.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Sam HauserSF: Jayson TatumPF: Al HorfordC: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesOshae BrissettSvi MykhailiukLuke KornetPayton PritchardJordan WalshXavier Tillman
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonNeemias Queta
Accidents/OutJaylen Brown (hand) out Derrick White (again) out Jaden Springer (knee) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Kings Starters
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PG: De’Aaron FoxSG: Keon EllisSF: Harrison BarnesPF: Keegan MurrayC : Domantas Sabonis
Kings Reserves Chris DuarteKessler Edwards Colby JonesMason JonesAlex LenTrey LylesJaVale McGeeDavion MitchellSasha Vezenkov
Two Approach PlayersJordan FordJalen Slawson
Accidents/OutJordan Ford (again) questionableKevin Huerter (shoulder) out Malik Monk (knee) out
Head CoachMike Brown
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation vs De’Aaron Fox Fox is averaging 26.3 factors, 4.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists and a pair of.0 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 46.3% from the sphere and 36% from past the arc. The Celtics might want to sluggish him down and in addition handle the ball as he’s all the time a menace to steal the ball.
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Kristaps Porzingis vs Domantas SabonisSabonis has been taking part in very properly in latest video games. He’s averaging 19.6 factors, 13.7 rebounds, and eight.3 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 59.9% from the sphere and 37.7% from past the arc. The Celtics must maintain 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 MurrayMurray is averaging 15.1 factors, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 46.3% from the sphere and 36.0% from past the arc. Murray may be very able to placing up numerous factors if not defended properly. Presently of the 12 months, it’s laborious 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 Recreation Protection – Protection is all the time the important thing to successful each recreation. The Kings have a defensive score of 115.0 (seventeenth). The Celtics defensive score is 110.6, third within the league. The Celtics must defend the paint because the Kings common 51.7 factors within the paint per recreation. The Kings are 4th within the league with 38.8 three pointers tried per recreation so the Celtics should additionally defend the perimeter. The Celtics must tighten up their protection as that’s probably what is going to win this recreation.
Rebound – A lot of rebounding is effort and need. The Celtics should put out further effort to seize the rebounds on each ends of the courtroom. By doing so, they restrict the second likelihood factors and quick breaks for the Kings and in addition give themselves further possessions. The Celtics are averaging 46.5 rebounds per recreation to 43.9 rebounds per recreation for the Kings. The Kings common 14.4 second likelihood factors per recreation and they also should put out further 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 fitting means. They should give attention to transferring the ball rigorously, on taking good pictures, on going after unfastened balls and on taking part in as a workforce. The Kings are nonetheless taking part in for positioning within the put up season and want to keep away from the play-in so they are going to be centered and can play laborious. The Celtics should play with elevated focus and energy in the event that they anticipate to beat the Kings on this one. Though the Celtics have secured their spot on the prime of the league, they nonetheless must play as if they’re making an attempt to make the playoffs. They don’t wish to let their effort slack off going into the playoffs.
X-Components Dwelling Court docket Benefit – The Celtics have labored laborious to get house courtroom all through the playoffs. They should use house courtroom benefit on this recreation to provide them a lift. They’re taking part in in entrance of their very own followers and on their very own acquainted courtroom whereas the Kings are taking part in on the highway and have journey and a hostile crowd and highway fatigue to distract them.
Officiating – Officiating can all the time be an x-factor. Each crew will name the sport in a different way. Some will name each little factor and the sport may have no stream. Others will let so much go and allow them to play. Some crews favor the house workforce 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.
