Celtics respond with impressive, dominant bounce-back win over Kings STEVE HEWITT BOSTON HERALD UPDATED DECEMBER 21, 2023 12:56 AM Joe Mazzulla has emphasized the importance for the Celtics to have a consistent mindset this season.
No matter the circumstances, he wants the Celtics to bring the same focus, energy and commitment for every game. The circumstances were not ideal on Wednesday night in Sacramento.
They were missing Jayson Tatum and Al Horford. Less than 24 hours after an exhausting overtime loss to the Warriors, they had to play the second leg of a back-to-back, shorthanded against a good Kings team that loves to run. Challenge accepted, and accomplished.
The Celtics, once again, responded. They didn’t make excuses. They showcased the mental toughness that has been consistent through the first third of the season. They put on an offensive clinic, and didn’t let off the gas in one of their most impressive performances of the season, a convincing 144-119 rout over the Kings.
Without Tatum and Horford, the Celtics had plenty of firepower. Five players scored in double figures. Derrick White put on a masterclass with 28 points and seven assists. Jaylen Brown scored 28 points with six assists. Kristaps Porzingis was dominant on both ends with 24 points and six blocks.
Jrue Holiday had a near triple-double with 21 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. The Celtics started hot and could not be stopped, finishing with 22 3-pointers that included six each from White and Payton Pritchard. A night after they blew a 17-point lead to the Warriors, the Celtics took control in the third quarter and did not look back. Led by Porzingis, who scored nine points in the first five minutes of the period, the Celtics went on a 22-6 run.
They led by 28 when Brown threw down one of the most thunderous dunks of his career. De’Aaron Fox scored 29 points for the Kings, but 26 came in the first half. The Kings started hot, leading by 12 in the first quarter as they hit 11 3-pointers in the opening period. But the Celtics punched back with an early 13-0 run and kept pushing with hustle plays and hot shot-making to build a double-digit advantage in the first half. They punched again in the third quarter and the Kings never answered them
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