Two groups trying to put a loss to the Utah Jazz within the rear-view mirror will tangle Tuesday night time when the Boston Celtics go to the Sacramento Kings.
The Celtics can be ending a six-game highway journey whereas the Kings can be opening a four-game homestand when the golf equipment meet for the second and last time this common season.
Boston recorded a 122-104 house win over Sacramento on November 25, getting 30 factors from Jayson Tatum and 25 from Jaylen Brown.
Brown additionally had 25 factors however Tatum managed simply 15 when the Celtics took a 118-117 loss to the Utah Jazz in its most up-to-date motion on Saturday. Grant Williams added 23 factors within the setback, which was Boston’s second in 5 video games on the journey.
The Celtics has gone the previous eight video games with out beginning centre Robert Williams III, who’s sidelined as a consequence of a strained left hamstring. He labored out on Monday’s off day and was given the inexperienced mild to face the Kings.
If he is ready to play, Williams may beef up the Celtics simply because it may be working low on fuel on a tricky cross-country journey. It earned a win over the Atlanta Hawks, fell by two factors to the Houston Rockets, then defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Portland Trail Blazers earlier than visiting Salt Lake City.
In its fifth recreation in eight days on Saturday, Boston watched because the Jazz used 17 offensive rebounds and a poor offensive night time from Tatum to steal a one-point victory.
Tatum, an All-Star starter this season, didn’t ship on key alternatives in each losses on the journey. He admitted after Saturday’s failure he’d don’t have any drawback if fellow All-Star Brown — or anybody else for that matter — took a shot on the late-game heroics.
“I ain’t got no ego or nothing like that. I’m just trying to win,” he mentioned. “Joe (Mazzulla, the head coach,) can draw up a play for me, but there are other options.”
The Kings bought no such game-winning shot in its 128-120 loss at Utah on Monday. De’Aaron Fox scored 37 factors, Keegan Murray had 22 and Domantas Sabonis put up 11 to go along with 12 rebounds and 9 assists.
Sacramento (43-28) fell one recreation behind the Memphis Grizzlies (44-27) in its duel for the No. 2 seed within the Western Conference playoffs.
The Celtics (49-23) maintain the No. 2 spot within the East, a half-game up on the Philadelphia 76ers (48-23).
Sacramento’s loss at Utah prevented a 4-0 journey after the Kings earned wins at Chicago, Brooklyn and Washington.
A 40-19 first quarter doomed the Kings, and the ensuing high-energy rally to make it a aggressive end may have ramifications on the second night time of a back-to-back.
“Obviously we fought back,” Fox mentioned of the comeback that noticed the Kings erase a 25-point deficit and take the lead on 5 events within the fourth quarter. “But you don’t want to be in that type of position.”
The Kings additionally will host the Phoenix Suns, the Jazz and the Timberwolves on a homestand that might see them clinch their first playoff berth since 2006.
The Celtics already has sealed a spot within the Eastern Conference postseason.
