Everything you need to know about the Celtics’ 113-86 win over the Kings in quickie form.
HEADLINES
Six in a row: The Celtics have put together the longest winning streak in the NBA and remain tied atop the Eastern Conference and NBA with six-consecutive victories. Four of those wins have come by double digits.
Big game from Celtics backcourt: Jaylen Brown (22 points) and Kyrie Irving (22 points) were big sources of early offense in each half of the win, combining for 21 of the hosts’ 27 points in the first quarter and another 22 points in the third quarter. Irving had an up-and-down shooting night on the whole but Brown caught absolute fire from 3-point range, scoring 22 points in the first three quarters alone on 5-of-6 shooting from downtown.
TURNING POINT
The Celtics were engaged in a back and forth battle with the Kings in the first quarter, but the team’s second unit (plus Jayson Tatum) tightened things up on the defensive end in the second quarter. They limited Sacramento to just six points in the first six minutes of the second quarter, helping Boston jump out to 20-6 run after facing a 30-29 deficit. The Kings never seriously threatened again over the game’s final two frames.
TWO UP
Brown: A nearly perfect night for the 21-year-old wing. Brown went 7-of-8 from the field and 5-of-6 from 3-point range, a career high in makes for him from 3-point range, as he matched Irving with a game-high 22 points. He’s now averaging 16.3 ppg on the season, making him the second-best scorer on the team.
Theis: The German delivered his first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 rebounds in just 18 minutes as he got the best of Kings best men (Kosta Koufos and Willie Cauley-Stein). He’s starting to look like one of the bigger steals of the offseason given his price (veteran’s minimum for the next two years).
TWO DOWN
The Kings’ future outside of De’Aaron Fox: The point guard out of Kentucky had his moments in with strong drives, including a blow by of Terry Rozier, but outside of him, there is literally nothing to get excited about on this team. Zach Randolph and George Hill are solid but aren’t good enough on both ends to lead this team? The rest of this crew appear to be role players at best. Kings are going to need to luck out during the lottery this May.
Literally no one on the Celtics: The Celtics opened up a 31-point lead in the third quarter and if you looked down the active roster, every active Celtic was a contributor in some form, as evidenced but the double-digit plus/minuses for the entire squad before garbage time. Outside of a slow defensive start in the fourth quarter and some turnovers, there isn’t going to be much for Brad Stevens to complain about on film tomorrow.
INJURIES
Jaylen Brown appeared to tweak his left ankle in the closing minutes of the third quarter. He asked to come out of the game and got treatment on the bench. He is day-to-day.
TOP PLAY
Just a filthy touch pass from Irving here
And ANOTHER #SunLifeDunk4Diabetes! This time Irving gets the steal, brings it down the court and lobs it up for Al Horford! RT to raise $1! pic.twitter.com/1jwVpwe7Pp
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 2, 2017
