The Kings will be put to the test by the NBA’s best when they play host to the Boston Celtics in a marquee matchup Wednesday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
The Kings (16-9) have won three in a row and eight of 11 to climb to fourth in the Western Conference, four games behind the conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Celtics (20-6) had won five in a row before suffer a 132-126 overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. The Celtics are a half game ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
This marks the start of a tough stretch for Sacramento as the Kings close out a six-game homestand. They will face the Celtics on Wednesday, the Phoenix Suns on Friday and the Timberwolves on Saturday.
“We have a tough next three games,” Kings center Domantas Sabonis said. “Hopefully, everyone’s in rhythm and in shape. We’re going to have to come out and fight. They’re not going to be easy.”
Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox returned after missing one game with a shoulder injury to score 30 points in a 143-131 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday. Sabonis recorded a triple-double with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists.
The Celtics won’t submit an injury report until Wednesday because they played the Warriors on Tuesday, but center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) and center Luke Kornet (adductor) were ruled out against Golden State. Jayson Tatum left the game after rolling his left ankle in the first quarter but returned to log 41 minutes, finishing with 15 points on 5-of-17 shooting.
If Porzingis is out against the Kings, Al Horford could start at center, but the Celtics have been resting Horford in back-to-back situations. Whether Porzingis returns or not, former Kings big man Neemias Queta could get significant minutes. Queta has appeared in six games for the Celtics, averaging 4.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in 14.3. minutes per game. He had season highs of 10 points and 10 rebounds in 21 minutes against the Warriors.
Scouting Sacramento
Fox, who celebrates his 26th birthday Wednesday, is averaging 30.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists. Fox is sixth in the NBA in scoring behind reigning MVP Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kevin Durant.
Sabonis is averaging 18.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.2 assists. Sabonis and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic are tied for second in the NBA in rebounding behind Anthony Davis.
Keegan Murray (16.0 ppg), Malik Monk (14.8 ppg), Harrison Barnes (11.6 ppg) and Kevin Huerter (11.2 ppg) are also scoring in double figures. The Kings are 10-3 at home and 6-6 on the road.
Scouting Boston
The Celtics have one of the most formidable starting lineups in the NBA with Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Porzingis.
Tatum is an MVP candidate who averages 27.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Brown is averaging 22.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Porzingis (18.9 ppg), White (15.3 ppg) and Holiday (12.3 ppg) are also scoring in double figures.
The Celtics are sixth in the NBA in offensive rating (118.2), second in defensive rating (109.2) and second in net rating (+9.0). They are 14-0 at home and 6-5 on the road.
Status updates
▪ The Celtics have ruled Tatum out for Wednesday’s game against the Kings due to a left ankle sprain. Horford (rest) and Kornet (adductor) are also out. Porzingis is expected to play.
▪ The Kings are now listing Monk as questionable due to right foot irritation.
Celtics at Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California, NBA TV
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Celtics -2.5
Over/under: 234.5
Injury report
Celtics: OUT — Al Horford (rest); Luke Kornet (adductor); Jayson Tatum (ankle).
Kings: OUT — Jordan Ford (G League); Alex Len (ankle); Jalen Slawson (G League).
Upcoming schedule
Dec. 20 vs. Boston Celtics
Dec. 22 vs. Phoenix Suns
Dec. 23 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Dec. 26 at Portland Trail Blazers
Dec. 29 at Atlanta Hawks
This story was originally published December 20, 2023, 4:00 AM.
Jason Anderson is The Sacramento Bee’s Kings beat writer. He is a Sacramento native and a graduate of Fresno State, where he studied journalism and college basketball under the late Jerry Tarkanian.
