Boston Celtics 132 vs 109 Sacramento Kings summary: stats and highlights | NBA

The Boston Celtics ended a long end of season road trip with a big win over a tough opponent on Tuesday Night. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 36 points in the 132-109 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Tatum gets going early

Both teams went to into the game as two of the top teams in their respective conferences, and both were looking to bounce back after road losses to the Utah Jazz. Jayson Tatum had an off night in the loss to Utah, but made sure the same wouldn’t happen again against Sacramento scoring as many in the first quarter from Golden 1 Center as he had in the loss over the weekend.

He set the tone early, going for 15 first quarter points while the Kings started the night hot from downtown despite playing on an away-home back to back series. Domantas Sabonis had the Kings offense flowing early on and he nearly head a triple double before halftime.

There wasn’t much between the two sides for the first 24 minutes as the lead went back and forth. Boston started to show signs of life on the defensive end in the final few minutes of the opening half, and piled up a six point lead going into the break thanks to a 13-2 run to end the second quarter.

Sabonis triple double not enough

Boston came back from the break, and couldn’t miss from downtown. The Kings would do their best to go bucket for bucket with the visitors, but their defense had trouble stopping Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. The affects of a long back to back started to show and the Cs hit seven threes and pulled out to as much as a 19 point lead in a 40 point quarter.

Sabonis had 16, 13, and 12 for his 21st triple double of the season, but didn’t get enough help from his supporting cast. De’Aaron Fox had 18 points and Kessler Murray had 15, but it wasn't enough. Tatum meanwhile finished the game with 36 and 8 rebounds while Brown scored 27 and White chipped in another 20. All five Celtics starters ended the night in double digits in a game in which they only turned the ball over five times.

The Celtics are now hot on the trail of the Milwaukee Bucks for the final push of the regular season. They have 50 wins and sit two games back of the league leaders, while the Kings fall to 4.5 games back of the Western Conference leading Denver Nuggets and a game back of the second placed Grizzlies.

The game was already over, but Tatum made sure of it with baseline drive after the feed from White.

With the defense locking in and the offense clicking, the lead stretch out to as many as 27 as Joe Mazzulla got to rest his guys for the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

Sometimes Jayson Tatum can make it look all too easy. This step back is so tough, but he makes it seem so smooth.

The Celtics were hot from DT in the third quarter, which made the Kings defend the perimeter and give up easy bucket like this one to Jaylen Brown who posted 27 on the night.

Smart air balled a couple of threes at the beginning of the game, but he still ended the game with 17 points.

The Celtics went into Sacramento and held the league's top scoring team to just 109 points. Tatum continued the onslaught and ended the night with a game high 36 points

Boston's ability to get easy buckets, and then turn it on on the defensive end was too much for the Kings on the second end of a back to back after playing the Jazz on Monday night.

Tatum ended the second quarter with this and 1 and the Celtics went on a 13-2 run to end the first half, which took them to the break up 6 points. They would only stretch that lead out more in the second half.

Jaylen Brown wasn't just sitting and watching Tatum put on a show, he got into the mix early on as all five Boston starters hit double digits.

Jayson Tatum had just 15 points in the loss to the Jazz over the weekend, but had 15 points in the first quarter to get the Celtics going early.

Metu on the lay up and gets fouled! He hits the FT and that will be the last bucket of the game.

Williams gets to the bucket and drops the lay up.

Dellavadova gets the floater to go in the lane and we are under a minute to go here from Sacramento.

Kornet with the left handed floater from outside the lane.

Holmes on the floater in the lane for 5 quick points.

White at the line after the Ellis foul and he hits two of two.

Holmes stick a three ball for the Kings off the bench.

Hauser drills the three ball off the bench as the subs are in out of the timeout.

Baseline drive from Tatum again this time on the other side, and he's got 36 on the night.

Murray driving to the cup and gets the scoop off the glass.

Tatum with the dash to the rack on the baseline and he gets the whistle! FT is good and the lead is 24.

Brown to the line after the Murray foul and he hits both FTs.

Fox on the floater, and the Kings need to see the best fourth quarter scorer in the league heat up soon.

White in the corner and he sticks it! It's a 9-0 run for the Cs and that might have just sealed the win!

Brown high up off the glass as he took it into the traffic in the paint!

Tatum to the rack and finishes with the left hand.

Timeout Kings with 7:12 on the clock.

Sabonis was fouled on the rebound by Brogdon and he misses both the FT line.

Smart slashes down the lane and gets the runner off the glass to drop.

Monk came up with the steal out of the timeout and he got fouled by Smart. He hits both FTs and we have a 12 points game. Still manageable for the Kings, but they have to come up with stops.

Timeout Boston with 8:38 to go in the fourth quarter.

Murray drills the three ball after the kick out from Sabonis!

Brown with the drive down the right side and finishes with the left hand

Monk at the line after the foul on Brown and he hits both FTs.

Davis with a quick trigger from the corner out of the timeout for three!

Brogdon got the steal and went to the iron, missed the lay up but G. Williiams got tip in to go.

Timeout SAC with 10:04 left in the fourth.

Smart to the line after the foul on Monk and he hits one of two FTs.

Brogdon starts the quarter with a floater in the lane.

We are headed to the fourth quarter! Boston stretched their 6 point lead out to as many as 19 in a quarter that saw them hit seven threes!

Barnes was fouled by White and he hits both FTs

Fox gets to the iron and connects around the rim.

White with the three ball and the lead is up to 19!

Tatum goes to the line after the Monk foul and he missed both, but the second one was rebounded and put back by Williams.

Tatum on the step back jumper from a step behind the elbow.

Davis missed the FT out of the timeout and then the Kings were whistled for the travel.

Timeout Celtics after Wililams gets T'd up and we will take a break with 2:21 to go in the third quarter.

Kick out from Tatum to White and he drills the triple fro the corner!

Tatum to the line after the Mitchell shooting foul and he hits one of two FTs.

Davis with another three ball! That's his second of the quarter!

Sabonis with a much needed easy bucket down low and the Kings aren't having trouble scoring they are having trouble defending.

R. Williams gets the lay up down low after the missed bunny by Murray.

Barnes on the kick out and he finds Davis wide open for three!

White strokes another three ball for the Cs and the lead is out to 14!

Sabonis with his first bucket of the second half on a hook shot down low.

Smart on the drive, gets the bucket and the foul! FT is good from Smart for the three point play.

Fox pulls up from the elbow and now all the Kings need is a stop.

Brown gets the slam off the Smart dish in the lane.

Barnes brings the deficit down to 10 with a three ball!

Smart with another three ball for the Celtics and the Celtics lead is the biggest of the night!

Horford strokes the long ball and it's raining threes in Sacramento!

Murray answers back with the three ball of his own!

Brown left wide open on the perimeter and he drills the three ball!

Barnes takes a stroll down the lane and he slams it home!

Tatum with the strip and the score on the lay up on the break.

The call stands and Brown hits the FT to complete the three point play.

Brown hanging in the air, absorbing the contact and gets the leaner off the glass to go after the foul on Fox. SAC are going to challenge the call.

Fox on the lay up and gets fouled by Smart! FT is no good.

Horford extends the lead back to 6 points with a corner three ball!

Murray on the pull up floater from the baseline

Tatum getting back to work and hitting the short range shot

WE ARE BACK IN ACTION FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!

Barnes gets us going with a three ball to start the third quartee!

The Cs went on a little 9-0 run to end the first half and head to the break with a 6 point lead thanks to Tatum's And 1 to end the half.

Brown has one of the best step back threes in the league. Forget Harden, forget Luka. Brown is the king.

Boston didn't look great as a team in the first quarter, but Tatum did. He had 15 first quarter points.

If it seems like Sabonis is a part of all of these highlights, it's because he is. He had eight assists in the first half (that just got changed officially on the stat sheet) to lead the Kings.

MIke Brown has this team playing fantastic basketball. The understanding between everyone is evident, and plays like this just add to that argument.

Sabonis and the Kings got off to quick start, He's got 12,8 and 7 already, and you can bank on him getting that triple double before the end of the night.

We are at the end of the first half in Sacramento. The Kings had the lead for most of the half, but a late run in the second quarter from Tatum and company has the Celtics up by 6 at half.

Tatum has 22, while Brown has 13. MItchell leads the Kings with 13 off the bench, Sabonis has 12 and Fox chipped in another 10.

Tatum had 3 seconds to work, and he took Edwards to the rack, got the bucket off the glass and the foul on Edwards! FT is good and he's got 22 going to the break!

Extra pass to Brown in the corner from Smart and he drills the three ball to take the lead!

Horford for three and he strings the triple try after the Smart offensive board.

Under a minute in the second quarter.

Sabonis on the turn around hook shot over Horford in the paint.

Baseline jumper from Tatum who took Mitchell off the dribble and he's got 19 first half points.

Tatum out of the timeout and he goes leftie with the lay up.

Sabonis found a wide open Edwards streaking to the iron and he cocked it back and punished the rim!

Mitchell again from behind the arc and he's got 13 off the bench!!!

Smarts gets an open look off the White offensive rebound and we are all tied up after the three ball

Sabonis heading to the line after getting fouled by R. Williams and he hits one of two.

MItchell gets the roll off the dribble and he's in double digits off the bench

Mid range jumper goes for Mitchell and we are all tied up again!

R. Williams going to the line after the offensive rebound on the Smart airball. He hits both FTs.

Catch and release three ball from Mitchell out of the timeout and we are all tied up!

Williams running the break and Brown hit him slashing to the bucket for the lay up.

SAC need a timeout with 7:46 to go in the second quarter.

Brown had Sabonis on skates and stepped back for the three ball to give the Cs their first lead of the game!

Fox to the line again, after Smart fouled him on the drive and he hits both FTs.

Brogdon on the tip in off the miss from Smart and we are all tied up after a 7-0 run from the Cs

Horford following the Brogdon miss in transition and gets the put back to go.

Brown on the step back three ball and he stuck it with a hand in his face!

Fox to the line after the Horford foul and he hits both FTs.

Fox starts the second quarter with a step back three over Horford!

Tatum on the step back three and that's two in a row to end the quarter!!!

TATUM HAS 15 IN THE FIRST QUARTER!

Sabonis has 9 and Edwards has 6 for the Kings in what was an extremely fast paced first quarter.

Davis drills another three ball for the Kings and they have made 6 from downtown after a red hot start!

Tatum strings a three ball and that's his first long ball of the game.

Monk on the floater down the lane.

Brogdon was cherry picking on the miss and White hit him with a long pass.

Monk and Sabonis with a little give and got in the paint that leads to a dunk for the big man!

Sabonis at the line after the Williams foul, and he splits the two FTs.

White at the line out of the timeout and he hits one of two FTs.

White was fouled on his way to the iron and that will take us to another timeout here from SAC with under 3 to go in the first quarter.

Tatum spots up from the midrange and he hits the shot from the right wing.

White gets into the lane and finishes with the left hand out of the timeout.

Mitchell strings the three ball off of another Sabonis assist!!! What a start to this game! Plenty of points, plenty of pace, and that will take us to our first timeout with 4:00 to go in the first quarter.

Murray into the lane after the Sabonis dump off and he gets the short jumper to fall.

Tatum to the line for three shots after the Edwards foul and he hits all three FTs.

Sabonis gets the short range effort to go and he is off to a good start against this small starting five of Boston.

Tatum getting back to the bucket and he gets the lay up to go!

White sent Barnes to the line, and he hit one of two FTs.

Edwards with ANOTHER THREE BALL!! That's four already in the first five minutes for SAC!

Brown on the floater in the lane off the dish from Tatum.

Tatum gets his first point of the night with a drive and lay up

Sabonis with another lay up down low and the Kings lead is 5.

Edwards in the corner after the kick out from Sabonis, and that's seven straight buckets!

Smart drills a three ball and now it's the Celtics with the hot hand from deep!

Sabonis introduces himself into the game with a lay up to get his night started.

White answers back with a three ball, and this game is off to an explosive start!

Murray with a three ball and the Kings are starting off hot from downtown!

Brown on the pull up and he doesn't need much to get hot in a hurry.

Fox starts us off with a long range effort after scoring 37 last game against the Jazz!

WE ARE UNDERWAY IN SACRAMENTO!!!

Joe Mazzulla is going small to start the game. He has Al Horford down low with White, Smart, Tatum and Brown on the perimeter for tonight's match up in Sacramento.

The Kings may not have a Super Team full of stars, but Mike Brown's side is deep. Fox, and Sabonis headline the Sacramento starting 5, but Edwardds, Barnes and Murray are a fantastic supporting cast for Sacramento.

NBA Standings

Taking a look at the East and the West coming into the night, we see the Kings sitting in third place after their loss to the Jazz. The Grizzlies have been keeping their head above water without Ja Morant and they will be locked in a dead sprint with Sacramento for that second spot in the Western Conference come playoff time. The C’s are sitting in second in the East and still have a chance to catch the Bucks before the end of the regular season, but they have to keep an eye on the Sixers who are hot on their trail.

Kings' king living up to his name

Domantas Sabonis is quietly becoming not just one of the best big men in the league, but one of the best players in the league. He comes from NBA pedigree, as son of former Portland Trail Blazers legend Arvydas Sabonis, and at what point do we begin to talk about him surpassing his dad’s historic career? He is bound for a triple double on any given night and is one of the main reasons the Kings have made such a quick turnaround over the last season. Tonight he will be tested by one of the best defensive teams in the league.

Brown bringing the heat

Jaylen Brown was the top scorer in the Celtics loss in Utah over the weekend, and the All-Star may not get as much publicity as he should because he plays in the same back court as Jayson Tatum. He is a bonafide super star, averaging 26.7 points and 6.9 rebounds a game and has been an integral part of the Celtics success over the last few years.

C's coming off loss to Jazz too

In the game before their matchup with the Kings, the Jazz took down the Boston Celtics. Jaylen Brown helped the C’s jump out to an 19 point lead in the second quarter in his 25 point night, but Lauri Markkanen showed why he was selected to the All-Star game with a 28 point effort in a comeback win. The Jazz cut the lead to a point before halftime and took it down to the wire against one of the top teams in the league. Grant Williams had a chance to win the game with a buzzer beating lay up but Walker Kessler came up with a walk off block to seal the 117-116 victory.

Kings coming off a loss

Sacramento hit the road last night on the first of a back to back series, and got pummeled to start the game. The Jazz went crazy in the first quarter and went up by 21 before the buzzer could sound to send the game to the second quarter. De’Andre Fox put up 37 points in a losing effort as Utah’s Ochai Agbaji had a career high 27. The Kings got back into the game in the fourth quarter and briefly had the lead, but the Jazz were able to hold off Sacramento to get a much needed with for their postseason future.

We are live from Golden 1

Hello everyone and welcome to Sacramento, California where the Kings have been the shock of the NBA season. Last year they were 22 games under .500, this year they are 15 games over .500 and will most likely end up with the 2 or 3 seen in their conference. The Celtics are hanging on to the second seed in the East, but are 5-5 in their last 10 and might have lost out on their chance to host the entire Eastern Conference playoffs.

Celtics vs. Kings

Two of the top teams in their respective conferences get set for a tussle tonight from Sacramento. The Kings are in the midst of a shocking turnaround season and they host the Boston Celtics who are looking to take a step further than their NBA Finals run last year. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s game from Golden 1 Center.