Sacramento Kings (12-37) at Boston Celtics (29-18)Friday, January 30, 20267:30 PM ETRegular Season Sport #48, Residence Sport #23TV: NBCSB, NBCSCA, NBA League PassRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, 1140 AM Sactown Sports activities, Sirius XMTD Backyard
The Celtics proceed their dwelling stand after a win over the Path Blazers on Monday and a loss to the Hawks on Wednesday. That is the 2nd, and ultimate, recreation between these two groups this season. The Celtics received 120-106 in Sacramento on January 1. hey break up the sequence 1-1 final season with every crew profitable on the street. The Celtics are 194-120 general all time towards the Kings and 104-34 in video games performed in Boston.
The Kings have made just a few strikes since final season. They traded Jonas Valanciunas to Denver for Dario Saric in what is probably going a wage transfer. They misplaced Jake LaRavia as a free agent to the Lakers. They signed Drew Eubanks, Dennis Schroder, Treasured Achiuwa, and Russell Westbrook as free brokers. They drafted Nique Clifford with the twenty fourth choose within the 2025 draft that they acquired from OKC for a 2027 protected first spherical choose. Additionally they drafted Maxime Raynaud with the forty second choose.
The Celtics have slipped again to third within the East, 5.5 video games behind 1st place Detroit. They’re tied with 2nd place New York, 1 recreation forward of 4th place Toronto and fifth place Cleveland, 3 video games forward of sixth place Philadelphia and 4 video games forward of seventh place Miami. The Celtics are 8-6 towards Western Convention opponents. They’re 14-8 at dwelling and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re coming off a loss of their final recreation.
The Kings are 14th within the West, 26 video games behind 1st place Oklahoma Metropolis, 11.5 video games behind tenth place Los Angeles Clippers, and seven.5 video games behind twelfth place Dallas. They’re tied with fifteenth place New Orleans. They’re 4-12 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’re 3-21 on the street and 3-7 of their final 10 video games. They’ve misplaced their final 7 video games.
This recreation is the third recreation of a 4 recreation dwelling stand the place they received over Portland on Monday and misplaced to the Hawks on Wednesday. They’ll face Milwaukee on Sunday to shut out the house stand. Then, they’re on the street at Dallas and Houston earlier than enjoying Miami, New York, and Chicago at dwelling, taking them into the All Star Break. After the break, they are going to head out on a 4 recreation Western street journey by way of Golden State, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix, and Denver.
That is the fifth recreation of a 6 recreation street journey for the Kings. They misplaced to Cleveland, Detroit, New York, and Philadelphia within the first 4 and can full the journey at Washington. They return dwelling to host Memphis, LA Clippers, and Cleveland earlier than heading on the street to play at New Orleans and at Utah earlier than the All Star break.
For the Celtics, Neemias Queta missed Wednesdays recreation with an sickness. He has been upgraded to obtainable for this recreation. Jaylen Brown is listed as out on account of a proper knee contusion and left hamstring tightness. Jayson Tatum stays out as he continues to rehab his torn Achilles.
For the Kings, Zach LaVine missed the final 2 video games as he was coping with again points however got here off the bench towards the 76ers on Thursday. I’m guessing that he returns to the beginning lineup for this recreation. If he as soon as once more comes off the bench, Nique Clifford will doubtless begin as soon as once more in his place.
Russell Westbrook missed Thursday’s recreation with a foot harm and is out for this recreation. I’m guessing that Dennis Schroder will doubtless begin in his place. Malik Monk missed Thursday’s recreation and is off the harm checklist for this recreation presently. Keegan Murray is out with an ankle harm.
Possible Beginning MatchupsPG: Derrick White vs Dennis Schroder
SG: Payton Pritchard vs Zach LaVine
SF: Baylor Scheierman vs DeMar DeRozan
PF: Sam Hauser vs Treasured Achiuwa
C: Neemias Queta vs Maxime Reynaud
Celtics ReservesAnfernee SimonsHugo GonzalezXavier TillmanJosh MinottJordan WalshLuka GarzaChris Boucher2-Manner PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaAmari WilliamsInjuries/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) outJaylen Brown (knee/hamstring) outNeemias Queta (sickness) obtainable
Kings ReservesDevin CarterNique CliffordKeon EllisDrew EubanksDoug McDermottMalik MonkDario Saric
2-Manner PlayersDylan CardwellDaeqwon PlowdenIsaiah StevensInjuries/OutDomantas Sabonis (knee)Keegan Murray (ankle) outRussell Westbrook (foot) out
Key Matchups Payton Pritchard vs Zach LaVineLaVine is averaging 19.5 factors, 2.8 rebounds, and a pair of.3 assists. He’s capturing 48.6% from the sphere and 39.9% from past the arc. He missed the primary recreation towards the Celtics and got here off the bench for the Kings on Thursday after lacking the earlier 2 video games. I’m guessing that he’ll return to the beginning lineup for this recreation. If he doesn’t, Nique Clifford will doubtless get the beginning.
Baylor Scheierman vs DeMar DeRozanDeRozan is averaging 19.1 factors, 3.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per recreation whereas capturing 50.5% from the sphere and 33.7% from past the arc. Over his profession towards the Celtics, he has averaged 21.3 factors, 3.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Within the first recreation towards the Celtics, he completed with 25 factors, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal whereas capturing 56.3% from the sphere and 33.3% from past the arc. DeRozan particularly must be defended for mid-range photographs the place he excels.
Honorable MentionDerrick White vs Dennis SchroderSchroder is averaging 13 factors, 3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 41.6% from the sphere and 35.2% from past the arc. In opposition to the Celtics this season, he completed with 18 factors, 3 rebounds, and seven assists whereas capturing 58.3% from the sphere and 37.5% from past the arc. With Westbrook out, I’m guessing that Schroder will get the beginning and he’s doubtless to provide just a little additional effort to beat his former crew.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is at all times the important thing to profitable each recreation. The Kings have a defensive ranking of 119.5 (twenty eighth). The Celtics defensive ranking is 113.7, twelfth within the league. The Celtics have to defend the paint because the Kings common 48.5 factors within the paint per recreation. The Kings common 30.1 three pointers tried per recreation, which is thirtieth within the league and they’re final with 10.5 3 pointers made per recreation. The Celtics have to play powerful lock down protection each in and out.
Rebound – The Celtics need to put out additional effort to seize the rebounds on each ends of the court docket. By doing so, they restrict the second probability factors and quick breaks for the Kings and in addition give themselves additional possessions. The Celtics are averaging 44.9 rebounds per recreation to 40.9 rebounds per recreation for the Kings. The Celtics need to beat the Kings to rebounds and never permit them to get second probability factors and additional possessions.
Don’t Underestimate – As soon as once more, the Celtics are dealing with a crew that’s beneath .500. It could be simple for the Celtics to underestimate the Kings and anticipate a simple win towards a 12 win crew. That might be a mistake as a result of this Kings crew has crushed Denver, Minnesota, Miami and Houston so that they aren’t a simple crew to beat for those who don’t carry the hassle. The Celtics have to return out sturdy from the beginning and play arduous proper up till the ultimate buzzer. The Kings are very able to beating them in the event that they don’t play their greatest.
To three or To not 3 – The Celtics are 2nd within the league, making an attempt 42.3 threes a recreation. After they fall, the Celtics are powerful to beat. However, once they aren’t falling, the Celtics wrestle. In opposition to the Hawks, the Celtics shot simply 26.5% on threes. If the Celtics aren’t hitting their 3s, they need to go to Plan B and take the ball to the basket or shoot from midrange. If the 3s are falling, nice!! If not, go to Plan B. Most of all, they should deal with taking good photographs and making them.
X-FactorsHome Courtroom Benefit – The Celtics are at dwelling and wish to make use of that to their benefit. They’re enjoying in entrance of their very own followers and on their very own acquainted court docket whereas the Kings are enjoying on the street and have journey and a hostile crowd and street fatigue to distract them. The Celtics have to bounce again from their loss at dwelling towards the Hawks and begin a house win streak with a win right here.
Officiating – Officiating can at all times be an x-factor. Each crew will name the sport in a different way. Some will name each little factor and the sport could have no stream. Others will let so much go and allow them to play. Some crews favor the house crew whereas others name it evenly or have a private agenda. The Celtics want to regulate to how the sport known as and never let the officers take away their focus.
