Final: Celtics 111, Kings 109 -- Hayward hits game-winner as Celtics escape with victory

SACRAMENTO -- Redemption was the theme on Wednesday night in Sacramento as Gordon Hayward salvaged a win for Boston with a running jumper with two seconds remaining just seconds after fouling Buddy Hield on a 3-point field goal. The shot gave the Celtics a 111-109 victory and their second straight road win on a tough four-game road trip without Kyrie Irving.

Al Horford played one of the best game of the year in the victory, flirting with a triple-double to finish with 21 points, 1 rebounds and 7 assists in just 31 minutes. With Kyrie Irving sidelined with a sore quad, the visitors also managed to share the scoring load with six different players scoring in double figures despite a sloppy nice with the ball (17 turnovers). Harrison Baynes missed a shot at the buzzer but scored a game-high 24 points for the hosts, while Tatum chipped in with 24 points for Boston, including a big bucket in the final minute.

Second Quarter Notes

• Celtics offense really settles down with Horford/Tatum and Smart back on the floor. A lot more paint touches early on helps them produce a 7-0 erase and erase a nine-point Kings lead.


• Some deserved minutes for Semi Ojeleye at the backup 4 after some woeful C’s defense on there perimeter to start the half by Morris.


• Horford has helped slow the game down and compose the offense with patience.


• Tatum having a field day from the midrange while facing off against Brewer. No one on Kings have been able to slow him down.


• C’s defense brings Kings offense to a halt in second quarter, limiting them to zero points in nearly five minutes with a Smart/Tatum/Horford/Baynes/Ojeleye lineup, going on a 11-0 run in the process.


• The tide turned almost immediately after Horford hit the bench though with Morris and Rozier entering the game. Iso ball took over and C’s went scoreless for four minutes themselves in an ugly final few minutes for both sides.


• Just 12 assists in first half for C’s after 23 last night. Luckily for Boston, Kings went ice cold in the second quarter, going just 6-of-22 from the field.


• Ball movement is going to need to be a priority for this group as well as perimeter defense if they are going to escape with a win.

• Offense picks up where it has left off in Oakland, with balanced scoring from the entire group. All five starters scored in the opening four minutes


• Jayson Tatum really take it at Bogdan Bogdanovic early but he;’s settled for a lot of midrange shots.


• C’s defense struggling with Cauley-Stein early down low from a size standpoint, He’s made his first four baskets.


• Rozier showing some nice unselfishness in the early going, looking for others ahead of his own shot.


• New rotation is set with Baynes/Hayward/Brown all coming into the game at the six minute mark.


• Hield having his way with the C’s in isolation early.


• C’s offense grinned to a halt once the bench unit and Baynes came into the game. Baynes/Hayward/Brown were all minus-8 as ball movement stopped and jumpers stopped falling.


• C’s defense was also lackluster on the perimeter and inside as Kings shot 63 percent in the quarter to close out the quarter with a 15-4 run, pushing the lead to nine after facing an eight point deficit early on.

• Kyrie Irving was announced as a late scratch by the team on Wednesday afternoon due to a left thigh contusion. The Celtics are 9-2 this season in games Irving has not played, including 2-2 on the road.


• The Kings will be without the second overall pick Marvin Bagley due to a knee injury. Without him, Sacramento has been starting small, playing with new trade addition Harrison Barnes at the four.


• This is the first matchup between the two teams this year. Both squads will meet again in eight days back in Boston. The two contests could have serious implications for the Celtics draft stash this spring since Sacramento currently sits 3.5 games out of a playoff spot. A couple more losses this week could help secure an extra lottery selection for Boston this summer.


• The Celtics had a season-high 38 assists during Tuesday's win over the Warriors.