On Friday night, the Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics collided with the NBA’s two best offenses being brought to bear at TD Garden. When the final buzzer sounded, the Celtics came out on top in a big way thanks to the energy reserve guard Payton Pritchard and backup big man Luke Kornet provided Boston off of the bench late in the third quarter as much as the elite play of star wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
With the win, the Celtics improved to 15-4 overall while consolidating their grip on the top spot in the league’s Eastern Conference standings, Boston is now a game and a half ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks, the East’s (and the NBA’s) second-best ball club in terms of the standings.
Let’s take a look at what Celtics and NBA Twitter had to say about the win.
First quarter
Your first look at Friday's Celtics-Kings game in Boston..
NBA RANK
SCORING – Sacramento 1, Boston 2
TRUE SHOOTING – Boston 1, Sacramento 2
EFFECTIVE FG% – Boston 1, Sacramento 2
OFFENSIVE RATING – Boston 1, Sacramento 2ALL-TIME RANK
OFFENSIVE RATING – Boston 1, Sacramento 11— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) November 24, 2022
If I didn't know better, I'd be skeptical these are the NBA's two best offenses early on.
— Dr. Justin Quinn (@justinquinnn) November 26, 2022
Sweet hesi move, DWhite.
— Mike Dynon ☘️🏀 (@MikeDynon) November 26, 2022
In fairness to Mike Brown, that is horrifically bad officiating
— Ryan Bernardoni (@dangercart) November 26, 2022
Scal: Sacramento does not look like a historic offense.
Mike: They look like the Kings.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) November 26, 2022
That legitimately looked like the Celtics defense from the second half of last year.
Let's see if they keep this up.
— Matt John (@MattJohnNBA) November 26, 2022
Second quarter
Tatum has gotten so good working out of the post. That's another dimension to his game that he's added.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) November 26, 2022
This game is crying out for PP's rat skills
— Ryan Bernardoni (@dangercart) November 26, 2022
The Kings just absolutely FLY in transition. They're so quick to the other end of the court once they get possession.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) November 26, 2022
The Celtics entered the game tonight 17th in the NBA in defense.
But 29th in the 2nd quarter (only Denver has been worse).
In the 2nd quarter tonight, the Kings have gone 12-18 from the floor, scored 27 points in less than 8 minutes and the Celtics lead, once 16, is now 53-49.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) November 26, 2022
Another game where the opposing bench provides a big spark. SAC reserves have 30 of the #Kings 59 points. #Celtics
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) November 26, 2022
Third quarter
The Kings outscored the Celtics 40-28 in the 2nd quarter. That's the most points the Celtics have given up in any quarter this season.
It's also the most they've given up in a quarter since last Christmas vs the Bucks— Max Lederman (@Max_Lederman) November 26, 2022
46-26 #Kings run
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) November 26, 2022
Tatum has really hit "there's just not much of anything you can do against him"
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) November 26, 2022
This is where Boston just needs to go to Tatum on every trip. Everything else is a mess, so let your star get things under control.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) November 26, 2022
Rough night all around for Marcus.
— Mike Dynon ☘️🏀 (@MikeDynon) November 26, 2022
Grant is the only human on Earth who is surprised at that T. He did everything he could to get that
— Max Lederman (@Max_Lederman) November 26, 2022
The Celtics are dusting off Luke Kornet and Payton Pritchard here. Mazzulla, who didn't play either of them in the first half, probably looking for a bit of energy.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) November 26, 2022
Kornet and Pritchard changed the energy. Immediate vibe shift
— Jam Packard (@JamPackard) November 26, 2022
Anyone who says PP can't defend is looking at his height and not his play.
— Dr. Justin Quinn (@justinquinnn) November 26, 2022
That would be a 16-0 Celtic run over the last four minutes of the third quarter. Boston leads Sacramento, 94-84, entering the fourth.
— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) November 26, 2022
Fourth quarter
Luke Kornet hasn't missed a shot since Nov. 11 against the Nuggets.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) November 26, 2022
SPICY BROWN
— Evan Valenti (@EvanValenti) November 26, 2022
You've gotta love this for Payton Pritchard man! Gets his number called out of nowhere and all he does is score eight points in the next seven minutes while helping to shift the momentum back in Boston's favor. That's a pro's pro right there folks!
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) November 26, 2022
Celtics on a 32-4 run over the last eight minutes. Pritchard and Kornet are a +26 over that stretch.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) November 26, 2022
This game might be an important one for those of us who think that Mazzulla should ease up a bit on playing the starters such heavy minutes.
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) November 26, 2022
You can get them now. 5 games in 8 days. Steal rest when you can
— Richard White (@RamblinWreck34) November 26, 2022
Celtics win pic.twitter.com/niJyMpPUux
— Celtics Lab Podcast (@CelticsLab) November 26, 2022
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