Game ID: 22301118
Sacramento Kings @ Boston Celtics
Friday, April 5, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 27 27 30 17 101SAC 15 35 22 28 100
BOS vs SAC ScoutingBOS vs SAC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BOS availability going into 3/28 · 2 days' restOUT Holiday missed 5 since 3/18, returns tonight: 36 min (108% of 34)
OUT Queta missed 2 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/18 after 5, 27 min since (94% of 29)
BACK Hauser back 3/22 after 2, 28 min since (134% of 21)
NEW Horford 28 to 35 min over the last 3
NEW Pritchard 22 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Brissett 10 to 16 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 3 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/28 after 5, 36 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Hauser back 3/22 after 2, 26 min since (128% of 21)
NEW Horford 28 to 35 min over the last 3
NEW Pritchard 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Brissett 10 to 16 min over the last 3
BOS availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 4 since 3/23, out tonight
OUT Brissett missed 2 since 3/28, returns tonight: 13 min (126% of 10)
BACK Holiday back 3/28 after 5, 36 min since (106% of 34)
BACK Hauser back 3/22 after 2, 24 min since (115% of 21)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 27 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/03 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 5 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/28 after 5, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Brissett back 4/01 after 2, 13 min since (126% of 10)
NEW Porziņģis 29 to 34 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 4/05 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 6 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/28 after 5, 33 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Brissett back 4/01 after 2, 8 min since (80% of 10)
BOS availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 7 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/28 after 5, 33 min since (97% of 34)
BACK Brissett back 4/01 after 2, 8 min since (74% of 10)
BOS availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 8 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Brissett back 4/01 after 2, 8 min since (77% of 10)
BOS availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 9 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Brissett back 4/01 after 2, 8 min since (74% of 10)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Hauser 21 to 27 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/12 · back-to-backOUT Queta missed 10 since 3/23, returns tonight: 18 min (160% of 11)
NEW Hauser 21 to 27 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/29 · 2 days' restOUT Lyles missed 8 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Vezenkov missed 21 since 2/11, out tonight
NEW Ellis 17 to 27 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Lyles missed 9 since 3/13, returns tonight: 19 min (94% of 20)
OUT Vezenkov missed 22 since 2/11, returns tonight: 10 min (81% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 30 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restBACK Lyles back 3/31 after 9, 19 min since (94% of 20)
BACK Vezenkov back 3/31 after 22, 10 min since (81% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 31 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restBACK Lyles back 3/31 after 9, 22 min since (112% of 20)
BACK Vezenkov back 3/31 after 22, 10 min since (80% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Mitchell 15 to 21 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/05 · back-to-backBACK Lyles back 3/31 after 9, 25 min since (123% of 20)
BACK Vezenkov back 3/31 after 22, 11 min since (91% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Mitchell 15 to 21 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restBACK Lyles back 3/31 after 9, 23 min since (114% of 20)
BACK Vezenkov back 3/31 after 22, 12 min since (97% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Mitchell 15 to 23 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restBACK Lyles back 3/31 after 9, 24 min since (120% of 20)
BACK Vezenkov back 3/31 after 22, 10 min since (82% of 12)
NEW Ellis 17 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Mitchell 15 to 25 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restNEW Ellis 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Mitchell 15 to 25 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/12 · back-to-backNEW Ellis 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Mitchell 15 to 25 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Porziņģis at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 23 and Murray at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Boston 119, Sacramento 109, Boston by 10.
3/28 @ ATL 122-123 — BOS notes
BOS lost 122-123 in 1 overtime. BOS shot 48% (45 of 94) to ATL's 49%, 14 of 36 from three, and went to the line 21 times to ATL's 10 — 18 points from the stripe to their 6. The glass went 43-53 against them. Tatum led with 31 (9 of 22, 2 of 7 from three, 11 of 13 at the line); White added 22, Porziņģis 20. Q2 was theirs, 34-31, but the other 4 periods went 92-88 against them. Tatum's -11 in 45 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/30 @ NOP 104-92 — BOS notes
BOS won 104-92. BOS shot 48% (39 of 82) to NOP's 40%, 15 of 37 from three, and got to the line 12 times to NOP's 18. The glass went 51-41 for them. Tatum led with 23 (10 of 17, 3 of 6 from three); Porziņģis added 19, Brown 17. The hinge was Q3, 24-11: a lead of 2 became 15, and the lead reached 22. Porziņģis was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
4/01 @ CHA 118-104 — BOS notes
BOS won 118-104. BOS shot 48% (43 of 89) to CHA's 45%, 19 of 53 from three. The glass went 51-40 for them. Tatum led with 25 (9 of 19, 4 of 10 from three); Hauser added 25, Porziņģis 20. The hinge was Q3, 36-26: a lead of 6 became 16, and the lead reached 19. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
4/03 vs OKC 135-100 — BOS notes
BOS won 135-100. BOS shot 54% (50 of 92) to OKC's 43%, 17 of 40 from three, and got to the line 19 times to OKC's 28. The glass went 46-31 for them. Porziņģis led with 27 (11 of 14, 3 of 3 from three); Tatum added 24, Brown 23. The hinge was Q4, 42-17: a lead of 10 became 35. Horford was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
4/05 vs SAC 101-100 — BOS notes
BOS won 101-100. BOS shot 43% (38 of 89) to SAC's 38%, 12 of 44 from three. Pritchard led with 21 (8 of 16, 5 of 10 from three); Porziņģis added 20, Tatum 17. The hinge was Q1, 27-15: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 19.
4/07 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 104, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 24 and Porziņģis at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 14 free throws a game; Ayton at 24 and Banton at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Simons (7 straight), Sharpe (40 straight), Thybulle (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 15 times a game to Boston's 10 and the arc, Boston at 37 percent from three to Portland's 31. Call it Boston 117, Portland 103, Boston by 14.
4/09 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 30 and Middleton at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Beverley (3 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 101, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Tatum at 22 and Brown at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 101 a night to Milwaukee's 116 and the line, where Milwaukee takes 24 free throws a game to Boston's 16. Call it Boston 117, Milwaukee 111.
4/11 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 103, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 13 free throws a game; Tatum at 22 and Brown at 21 a game. One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Brunson at 36 and DiVincenzo at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the line, where New York takes 23 free throws a game to Boston's 13 and the arc, New York at 42 percent from three to Boston's 36. Call it Boston 114, New York 109.
4/12 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 13 free throws a game; Tatum at 20 and Brown at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Miller at 23 and Bridges at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Charlotte takes 20 free throws a game to Boston's 13 and the defense, Boston allowing 106 a night to Charlotte's 114. Call it Boston 116, Charlotte 107.
3/29 vs DAL 103-107 — SAC notes
SAC lost 103-107. SAC took 18 more shots (92 to 74), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to DAL's 47%, 15 of 32 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 22 fouls committed. Fox led with 23 (9 of 22, 3 of 7 from three); Barnes added 20, Ellis 16. Q1 was theirs, 34-26, but the other 3 periods went 81-69 against them. They led by as many as 15. Edwards's -8 in 11 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/31 vs UTA 127-106 — SAC notes
SAC won 127-106. SAC shot 54% (45 of 84) to UTA's 41%, 20 of 40 from three. The glass went 44-33 for them. Murray led with 25 (10 of 18, 5 of 12 from three); Fox added 24, Barnes 24. The hinge was Q3, 39-25: a lead of 4 became 18, and the lead reached 25. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
4/02 vs LAC 109-95 — SAC notes
SAC won 109-95. SAC shot 42% (39 of 92) to LAC's 41%, 12 of 42 from three. SAC turned it over 10 times to LAC's 15. The glass went 56-38 for them. Sabonis led with 22 (8 of 17, 0 of 3 from three, 6 of 10 at the line); Fox added 20, Murray 19. The hinge was Q3, 35-19: a lead of 5 became 21, and the lead reached 26. Len was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
4/04 @ NYK 109-120 — SAC notes
SAC lost 109-120. SAC shot 49% (42 of 86) to NYK's 55%, 18 of 42 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 23 fouls committed. SAC turned it over 16 times to NYK's 11, and NYK turned those into 9 steals. Fox led with 29 (11 of 26, 6 of 13 from three); Murray added 18, Sabonis 17. Q1 was theirs, 35-20, but the other 3 periods went 100-74 against them. They led by as many as 21. Sabonis's -25 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/05 @ BOS 100-101 — SAC notes
SAC lost 100-101. SAC took 10 more shots (99 to 89), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 38% to BOS's 43%, 17 of 51 from three. Fox led with 40 (16 of 29, 7 of 13 from three); Sabonis added 16, Murray 10. Q4 was theirs, 28-17, the deficit cut from 12 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 84-72 against them. Edwards's -17 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/07 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 26 free throws a game; Thomas at 28 and Bridges at 17 a game. Without Smith Jr. (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Sabonis at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Brooklyn takes 26 free throws a game to Sacramento's 17 and the defense, Sacramento allowing 106 a night to Brooklyn's 114. Call it Sacramento 113, Brooklyn 112, Brooklyn keeping it close.
4/09 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Giddey at 15 and Holmgren at 15 a game. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (4 straight), Jal. Williams (4 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 100, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Murray at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 100 a night to OKC's 120 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-7 a night and OKC minus-3. Call it Sacramento 114, OKC 112, OKC keeping it close.
4/11 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 101, shooting 41 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 28 and Murray at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; McCollum at 28 and Williamson at 24 a game. Without Ingram (10 straight), Marshall (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-8 a night and New Orleans minus-1 and the defense, Sacramento allowing 101 a night to New Orleans's 111. Call it Sacramento 112, New Orleans 109, New Orleans keeping it close.
4/12 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Fox at 31 and Murray at 16 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 103, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 25 and Durant at 24 a game. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-3 a night and Phoenix minus-3 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 103 a night to Sacramento's 109. Call it Phoenix 112, Sacramento 111, Sacramento keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAH A. Horford
JH J. Holiday
JT J. Tatum
JW J. Walsh
KP K. Porziņģis
LK L. Kornet
OB O. Brissett
PP P. Pritchard
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
SM S. Mykhailiuk
XT X. Tillman
SACAL A. Len
AV A. Vezenkov
CJ C. Jones
DF D. Fox
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Sabonis
HB H. Barnes
KE K. Edwards
KE K. Ellis
KM K. Murray
TL T. Lyles
BOS/SAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Pritchard scores 21, Celtics hold off late charge by Kings to hold on for 101-100 win
BOSTON -- — Payton Pritchard had 21 points, including five 3-pointers and the Boston Celtics held off a late charge to beat the Sacramento Kings 101-100 on Friday night.
Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points and 11 rebounds – his second straight double-double – to help the NBA’s top team claim its 12th consecutive win at home one game after clinching home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. They’ve won 13 of their last 15.
De’Aaron Fox had 40 points for the Kings and banked in a go-ahead 26-footer with 27 seconds to play. But after Celtics reserve Xavier Tillman put Boston back in front, Fox misfired on a jumper – one of three potential game-winning shots for the Kings in the final 7 seconds as the Celtics survived.
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla rested his starters throughout the fourth quarter and left his reserves on the floor late.
"It's good for our team chemistry — those kinds of moments," Porzingis said. “And seeing Joe all hyped up on the sidelines. It was pretty cool. A good win for us.”
Domantas Sabonis added 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Kings, who have lost four of their last six as they try to avoid a spot in the play-in tournament.
“Fox was phenomenal, especially down the stretch with him having 40. ... He stepped up like he should have. Gave us a chance to win,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “We did just didn't shoot the ball well.”
For the game, Sacramento shot just 38% (38 for 99) and were 17 for 51 (33%) from the 3-point line.
Sabonis said they missed a great opportunity to move up in the tight Western Conference race.
“We let one slide,” Sabonis said. “We had a chance to come back and steal a game from them and we couldn't. ... We have five games left and Brooklyn's next. We've got to take care of business.”
The Kings cut a 19-point fourth deficit to 99-97 on a driving layup by Fox.
Colby Jones blocked Pritchard’s jumper on Boston’s next possession, followed by Fox's 3-pointer that gave Sacramento its first lead since the first quarter.
Sam Hauser had his short jumper blocked by Keegan Murray on the Celtics’ ensuing possession. But Tillman was able to corral it and score to put Boston back in front for good.
The Kings trimmed a 16-point first-half deficit to 54-50 by halftime, but the Celtics outscored them 30-22 in the third quarter to take a 12-point lead to the fourth.
Both teams struggled to score in the first five-plus minutes of the game. Boston started just 1 for 10 from the field and Sacramento opened 1 for 8.
The Celtics found their touch, ending the first quarter by connecting on 9 of their final 10 shots. The Kings finished 5 of 21.
Boston’s lead reached double-digits in the second quarter, but it needed every part of the basket at times to get it there. During one possession, Payton Pritchard fired up a deep 28-footer from beyond the top of the key. The ball bounced high off the back of the rim, clipped the front lip and then rolled off the glass before falling in.
Boston was without starters Jaylen Brown and Derrick White .
Brown sat with the sprained left hand that also kept him out of Monday’s win over Charlotte. Brown called it a ligament-related issue and acknowledged it was bothering him during Wednesday’s victory over Oklahoma City. Coach Joe Mazzulla said that Friday’s absence was about managing the issue and that he didn’t anticipate Brown being sidelined for the rest of the regular season.
White, who has started 70 of Boston’s 77 games this season, was out with a bruised lower back.