Mar 24, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) is unable to release a shot next to Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis (23) before the end of the second quarter at the Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
The Sacramento Kings dropped their third game in a row Monday night at home against the Boston Celtics. The loss drops the Kings to under .500 (35-36) and only a half game ahead of the 10th place Phoenix Suns.
Yes, the Kings are that close to falling out of the play-in.
The 113-95 loss quickly turned one-sided in the second half after a promising start.
With Domantas Sabonis [surprisingly back early from his ankle injury](https://kingsherald.com/articles/domantas-sabonis-trending-to-be-back-on-the-floor-sooner-than-expected/) and pushing the pace, the Kings started the game strong behind the hot hand and aggressiveness of Keegan Murray. The team jumped out to a 15-7 lead to start the game thanks to some hot shooting and defensive intensity. The Celtics would end the first quarter with a 30-29 lead though, leaning on Jayson Tatum’s scoring.
The second quarter was a relatively close contest. The Kings continued to play with physicality and outscoring the Celtics in the paint. Sabonis tallied a double double in the first half and Keon Ellis, DeMar DeRozan and Murray contributed with scoring. DeRozan also had 7 assists in the first half. The Celtics ability to hit threes canceled out much of the advantages the Kings were able to maintain, such as free throws and points in the paint.
The Celtics would take a 56-51 lead into the half.
The third quarter was a bit of a slugfest to start, with the Kings showing some fight, but that quickly gave way to the Celtics perimeter shooting and poise. By the 7:56 mark, the Boston was up 10. Tatum continued to carve up the Kings before a scary moment happened for him when he was fouled on a three by Domas and went down to the floor in pain. He was able to take his free throws, but exited and did not return. With Tatum out of the game, the Celtics didn’t skip a beat. Payton Pritchard and Kristaps Porzingis stepped up and Boston’s ball movement and defense prevented the Kings from much momentum from that point on. The Celtics took a 10-points lead into the fourth and it would grow to start the fourth quarter.
Aside from a brief scoring spurt from Zach LaVine in the fourth quarter that pulled the Kings back to within 10, the fourth was owned by Boston. Sacramento couldn’t hit their shots at the rim or from the perimeter while the Celtics scored at ease.
In the end, Boston scored 57 points on threes. The Kings scored 24 points on threes. This eliminated the advantage the Kings maintained in free throw percentage, fast break points, and points in the paint while matching the Celtics in field goal percentage and rebounding.
Sabonis finished with 16 points and 17 rebounds, and DeRozan finished with 20 points and 10 assists.
**Next Up**
The Kings welcome the first place Oklahoma City Thunder (59-12) into Golden 1 Center Tuesday at 7 p.m. Wheeeee