With the Celtics up double digits early within the fourth quarter, coach Joe Mazzulla continued to go deeper and deeper into his bench.
Kings coach Mike Brown countered by leaving his starters in your entire method. This recreation meant extra to Sacramento within the standings than it did to the Celtics, who’ve already locked up the NBA’s finest file.
Because the Kings whittled away, and ultimately turned an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit right into a 1-point lead within the remaining seconds, Mazzulla continued to belief his reserves.
These reserves confirmed their poise within the remaining seconds, as Boston did simply barely sufficient to prevail Friday at TD Backyard. Xavier Tillman nailed a clutch floater with 7.1 seconds left to provide the Celtics a one-point lead, then Boston registered one remaining cease to cement a 101-100 victory.
Payton Pritchard poured in 21, Kristaps Porzingis added 20 factors and 11 boards and Jayson Tatum scored 17 for the Celtics (61-16). De’Aaron Fox poured in 40 and Domantas Sabonis added 16 for the Kings (44-33).
Each side struggled offensively within the opening minutes – significantly the Celtics, who had simply three factors on the 5:41 mark. Pritchard and Tillman helped Boston discover its footing, offering a mixture of sharpshooting and well-timed hustle performs.
The Celtics closed the quarter on an prolonged 24-7 run, constructing a 27-15 edge by means of one regardless of the sluggish begin. Porzingis led the way in which with 7 factors, Tatum added 6 and Svi Mykhailiuk hit a 3-pointer. The spotlight got here when the individuals’s selection Luke Kornet soared in for a trampoline putback slam.
Mazzulla went nine-deep within the first quarter alone, persevering with to lean on the depth that’s paid dividends all season. Boston completed 9 of 10 after beginning 1 for 10, whereas Sacramento remained chilly and shot simply 23.8 % general.
Kornet stored the vibes excessive within the second, throwing down an alley-oop from Al Horford in a single fluid movement. Jrue Vacation hit a silky step-back 3, Pritchard benefited from a good roll and Tillman corralled a hustle rebound and located Porzingis for a rhythm 3.
Kornet alley-oop from Horford. They’re +5.0 as a duo this 12 months in 235 minutes.
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) April 6, 2024
That made it 49-33 Celtics with 4:45 left, however Fox fueled a 17-5 Kings flurry that sliced Boston’s result in 54-50 at halftime. The Celtics shot simply 29.2 % from 3, however the Kings weren’t significantly better at 32.1 %.
It was a streaky half for either side, and it yielded a comparatively clear slate heading into the second.
Boston’s lead swelled to 66-52 with 9:02 left, because of a 12-2 run highlighted by a phenomenal sequence the place all 5 Celtics touched the ball. Tatum turned down a mediocre shot and located Porzingis. Porzingis made the additional cross, Vacation did the identical, Hauser let the defender fly by and drove to the ring and located a wide-open Horford for 2.
Late within the quarter, Porzingis confirmed some like to the Celtics devoted, pounding his chest and saluting the gang after drawing a foul on a breakaway layup.
The Kings by no means late the harm escalate, trimming the margin to 75-70 late within the quarter. Pritchard buried a 3, Porzingis swatted a shot, Hauser discovered Porzingis for an alley-oop and Tatum drained a contested 3 with 2 seconds on the clock.
The Celtics prolonged their result in 84-72 by means of three, holding Sacramento to 36.5 % taking pictures general heading to the fourth. Boston’s ball motion and fixed knack for making the additional cross wore the Kings down because the night time progressed.
Rookie Jordan Walsh checked in with 9:24 remaining and supplied a hustle rebound. Pritchard continued to prepare dinner in opposition to Sacramento’s starters, however the Kings had been removed from completed. Fox splashed a top-of-the-key 3-pointer, chopping the deficit to 98-92 with 2:25 remaining.
Fox banked in a 3 to place Sacramento forward, 100-99, on the 27-second mark, then Tillman supplied the heroics. It wasn’t at all times fairly, but it surely was sufficient ultimately.
