Second defeat in a row for the Kings, who this time were forced to surrender against the extraordinary heat stroke of the Celtics at TD Garden after the break.
Boston had started the game very well, developing their basketball with confidence and application. In particular, there was a 15-2 marked by the distant missiles of Derrick White and Al Horford which allowed the locals to quickly take the lead (15-6). While Jaylen Brown gradually gained strength, his alter-ego Jayson Tatum concluded the first successful act of his own with a sharp dunk in transition (36-22).
The tone was set, but Sacramento did not give up. De’Aaron Fox worked hard to get his team back on track, and an 11-2 completed by Domantas Sabonis followed to bring the score to 51-47. It was then the turn of the Lithuanian to slam a big dunk to formalize Sacramento’s return to business before the break (64-62).
While a tight second half seemed to be looming, Boston finally managed to get out of it at the cost of an extraordinary series, a 19-0 passed between the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth! For the Kings, who had taken control (78-84), it was a tidal wave that fell on their defense in just over three minutes. Author of 14 points during the period, Jayson Tatum played a big role there, between his far-sighted passes for Malcolm Brogdon or Luke Kornet for an alley-oop, and his last two baskets to complete the third act, including a 3- points registered with the board!
The series ended on a 3-pointer from Sam Hauser at the start of the fourth quarter (97-84). It was a rude awakening for Sacramento, which was unable to recover. Jaylen Brown then took control of operations to guide Boston to victory (122-104), the 15th of the season for the C’s.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A saving series. Sacramento arrived at TD Garden with ambition, and the first half confirmed that Mike Brown’s team had a case to upset the Celtics. As the meeting gradually tipped over to the side of the Californians, Boston had a life-saving start with this 19-0 that changed everything. The series reflected Boston’s best face, when major players have control and free up opportunities for role players. Sacramento never recovered.
– Significant end of periods. Each end of the quarter was punctuated by a spectacular action which symbolized the momentum in favor of one or the other team depending on the moment of the match. There was this raging dunk from JT to cap off a successful first act for the Celtics. That of Domantas Sabonis at the end of the second quarter was not bad either in style. We could also add De’Aaron Fox’s 2+1, all in control, just before the break. Boston took control at the end of the third quarter and a new strong action came to mark the occasion: a 3-pointer from Jayson Tatum which ignited the assembly and reinforced the locals in their demonstration. So much so that the suspense very quickly flew away in the last act…
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jayson Tatum. 14 points scored in the third quarter to tip the game in favor of Boston, and more generally a game of boss finished with 30 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. All with relatively little waste in the end.
✅ Derrick White. The impact of the “role players” was decisive this night for Boston. Many of them showed up (Al Horford, Sam Hauser, Malcolm Brogdon, Payton Pritchard), but Derrick White was undoubtedly the most productive, with 3 steals to accompany his 16 points, 2 assists, and 3 rebounds.
⛔️The Monk-Huerter tandem. Speaking of “role players”, these two have been regularly highlighted since the Kings’ good start to the season. On the other hand, they completely missed it, particularly on the outside shot, with 1/6 for Malik Monk and 0/6 for Kevin Huerter. We could also add Keegan Murray and his 1/8 shooting. Redemptive for the Kings on the lands of the leader of the Eastern Conference.
THE FOLLOWING
Celtics (15-4): Boston continues with the reception of Washington this Sunday (midnight)
Kings (10-8): Return to California for Sacramento which will host Phoenix on Monday evening (04:00).
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