BOSTON CELTICS (29-18) vs. SACRAMENTO KINGS (12-37)
Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub
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Jaylen Brown – OUT (left hamstring tightness; right knee contusion)
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Ron Harper Jr. – OUT (G League, two-way)
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Neemias Queta – AVAILABLE (non-Covid illness)
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Max Shulga – OUT (G league, two-way)
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Jayson Tatum – OUT (right Achilles repair)
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Amari Williams – OUT (G League, two-way)
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Keegan Murray – OUT (left ankle sprain)
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Domantas Sabonis – OUT (left knee injury management)
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Russell Westbrook OUT – (right foot soreness)
What to watch for: It’s been a long couple of weeks for the Boston Celtics. Ugly games against the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Atlanta Hawks have weighed them down.
Boston’s top ball-handlers have fought through a slog of hard-nosed defenders. Ausar Thompson. Toumani Camara. Dyson Daniels. Everyone Jordi Fernandez decided to deploy on his Nets roster.
Keep an eye out for if the Sacramento Kings try to up their physicality.
Jaylen Brown’s place on the injury report isn’t a coincidence—he’s been taking a beating for a while now. And the likes of Keon Ellis and Dylan Cardwell could give him another test on Friday night (if he’s active).
Tale of the tape: The Celtics beat the Kings handily on New Year’s Day. Brown’s 29 points led the charge, but it was a well-rounded effort for the Celtics.
They had seven guys score in double figures, highlighted by Sam Hauser’s five triples and Neemias Queta’s three blocks.
A 32-18 fourth quarter lifted Boston to a 120-106 victory in Sacramento.
Last game: Quin Snyder’s Hawks got the best of Boston on Wednesday night. They dominated from the jump, draining three after three in the Celtics’ faces.
A late-third-quarter surge led by Baylor Scheierman nearly put the Celtics in position to mount a comeback, but it wasn’t enough. The Hawks’ hot shooting and defensive intensity were more than enough to secure a 117-106 victory at TD Garden.
Kings check-in: Sacramento has been struggling. They are riding a seven-game losing streak heading into Boston on Friday, six of which have been against Eastern Conference opponents.
Despite their lack of success, Malik Monk has been on fire. In his last five, he has averaged 18.6 points on 55.7% shooting from the field and 51.4% shooting from deep range (7.4 three-point attempts).
Ellis and Precious Achiuwa could be names to watch, too, as the Celtics inch closer to the trade deadline. The former has been linked to Boston.
One fun play: This is just a simple pick-and-roll. Well, it’s actually two of them. First, Amari Williams screens for Derrick White. Then, for Anfernee Simons. But spot the difference.
The first doesn’t get off the ground. But then, Boston runs the play closer to half-court. Higher up the floor. This gives Simons more of a runway toward the basket, and he hits a tough floater.
Setting higher screens could be a way for the Celtics to get around teams’ increased physicality, as it would give them more space on the court to work with.
