Preview: Kings aim for fourth-straight win vs. Celtics
Dec 20, 2023, 9:21 AM | Updated: 1:41 pm
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Sacramento Kings are playing their best basketball of the young season, but the backend of this six-game homestand will not be a walk in the park–at least not on paper.
Sacramento (16-9) has won three-straight games and five of their past six contests after losing to the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals, including Monday’s 143-131 win over the Washington Wizards.
Golden 1 Center has been a strength for the Kings this season, as Sacramento holds a 10-3 record on their home floor.
After jumping out to a 3-0 start to the six-game homestand, the final three games will provide the Kings with a series of tests that will begin on Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics.
Boston (20-6) has looked like a clear NBA Finals contender this season, although they will be playing on tired legs in Sacramento after dropping a hard-fought 132-126 loss to the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on Tuesday.
The Celtics could be without star forward Jayson Tatum, who told reporters that he suffered an ankle sprain during the loss to Golden State, but Boston is expected to get recently-acquired big Krstaps Porzingis back to face the Kings.
Sacramento has looked dominant against struggling teams like Utah and Washington. Now it’s time to see how they fare against some of the best teams in the league, starting with the Celtics before playing a weekend back-to-back against Phoenix and Minnesota.
Sacramento Kings vs. Boston Celtics Game Info
When: 7:00 PM PST
Where: Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Coverage starts at 5:30 PM on Game Night
Line: Kings -2.5, O/U 234.5
Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Celtics coverage, beginning at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Sacramento.
Tickets: Click here
The Rise of Keegan
Keegan Murray has been incredible as of late. There isn’t much else that you can say about the second-year forward.
Over the past five games, Murray is averaging 25.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 58 percent and a red-hot 60 percent from three-point range on 6.6 attempts per contest.
More importantly, Sacramento holds a 4-1 record over those five games, with Murray leading the scoring charge. Since he entered the NBA last season, the Kings are 17-1 when Murray scores 20+ points.
Now that Murray has shaken off the offensive struggles that plagued him at the start of the year, Sacramento has shown what its offense can look like with a three-headed monster of De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Murray.
Murray has been the Kings’ best defender this season thus far as well, consistently picking up the best opposing player on a nightly basis. Boston will provide a challenge for Murray, with or without Jayson Tatum (ankle) as Jaylen Brown has averaged 28.0 points per game over his past four appearances against Sacramento.
It’s been encouraging to see Murray flash his potential as a true three-and-D wing, and Wednesday will provide the 23-year-old with another test.
Defend The Three
If there’s one thing that sticks out about the Boston Celtics, it’s that they love to shoot the three-ball.
Entering play on Wednesday, Boston leads the NBA in made three-point field goals and three-point field goal attempts while ranking dead last in two-point field goal attempts.
During Tuesday’s loss against the Warriors, the Celtics hoisted a 58 attempts from beyond the arc–the most of any NBA team this season–while only converting 17 to finish the night 29 percent from deep.
Boston leads all NBA teams this season in games with 45+ attempts from three-point range (11). In those games, they hold a record of 8-3, meaning that they might be quick to let if fly, but good results have normally followed–just not last night.
Jayson Tatum’s shot for the win is no good 😳
The Warriors and Celtics and heading to OVERTIME 🔥
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 20, 2023
The bad news is that it doesn’t take much for the Celtics to secure a victory.
Boston is 18-0 when shooting 33 percent or better from three-point range, meaning that Sacramento is going to want to ensure the Celtics finish beneath that mark, especially when you factor in their struggles to score in the paint (26th in the NBA).
The Kings enter play ranked 24th in the league when it comes to three-point defense (37.8%), and while they hold a 3-0 record during this homestand, they have allowed their last three opponents to shoot a combined 37 percent from downtown.
Against a three-point-reliant-offense like Boston, that won’t cut it.
Notes
- De’Aaron Fox turns 26 years old on Wednesday, and the guard needs just seven assists to tie Mike Bibby for the Sacramento era (1985-present) assists record (2,580).
- Domantas Sabonis averaged 17.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 9.0 assists on 56 percent shooting against Boston last season.
- The Kings are seeking its first win over the Celtics since March 19, 2021, and first win over Boston at Golden 1 Center since February 3, 2021.
Kings vs. Celtics Injury Report
Sacramento
- Malik Monk – QUESTIONABLE – (right foot irritation)
- Alex Len – OUT (high ankle sprain)
- Jordan Ford – OUT (G-League)
- Jalen Slawson – OUT (G-League)
Boston
- Jayson Tatum – OUT (left ankle sprain)
- Al Horford – OUT (rest)
- Luke Kornet – OUT (adductor strain)
Upcoming Schedule
- Wednesday, December 20th – Sacramento Kings vs. Boston Celtics – 7:00 PM PST
- Friday, December 22nd – Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns – 7:00 PM PST
- Saturday, December 23rd – Sacramento Kings vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – 7:00 PM PST
- Tuesday, December 26th – Sacramento Kings @ Portland Trail Blazers – @ 7:00 PM PST
- Friday, December 29th – Sacramento Kings @ Atlanta Hawks – 4:30 PM PST
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