Preview: Struggling Celtics Return Home to Battle Kings
Creator: Ezra Shaw | Credit: Getty Images | Copyright: 2021 Getty Images
The Celtics are fresh off of a disappointing loss to the Cavaliers. Tonight they’ll get their chance to bounce back against the 16-24 Sacramento Kings.
The Kings are led by point guard De’Aaron Fox who is having an All-Star caliber season. Fox is averaging 23.7 points and 7.6 assists a game. He has a solid supporting cast behind him, too, with five other Kings players putting up at least 12 points a night. Rookie Tyrese Haliburton in particular has been showing out this season. He and Fox combined for 47 points the last time the Kings faced the Celtics, a game with Sacramento won. The Kings also have swingman Harrison Barnes, a guy many people have linked to the Celtics this season. However, reports have recently surfaced that the Kings do not plan on trading Barnes or Buddy Hield this season. Sacramento is 4-6 in their last 10 games.
This game will be huge for the Celtics, who are 1-3 since the All-Star break. The two losses to Brooklyn and Utah were respectable, but losing to Cleveland was a shot to the heart. Kemba Walker will be back in action after missing the last game for injury management, though. Both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been seemingly the sole source of offense outside of Walker, so it has been hard to find a rhythm as a team. Without a lot of depth, the Celtics have continuously gone back to iso-ball and it hasn’t worked out. Even Danny Ainge has come out and said that the team doesn’t look very good right now.
The team will be at near full strength tonight, so it should be a good test for them. Everyone needs to come out firing and have the right energy on defense. Slow starts have been a killer for the C’s, with the perfect evidence coming last game against the Cavs. Boston is going to have to stay active on all ends with the amount of speed the Kings have.
Tristan Thompson and Romeo Langford are the only two guys on the injury report for Boston tonight. They are listed as our due to health and safety protocols. As for the Kings, Marvin Bagley III and Chimezie Metu are both out.
Make sure to tune in to our live pregame show, the Banner Town Build Up, 30 minutes before the game on YouTube and Twitter @GuyBostonSports. The Celtics tip-off against the Kings at 7:30 PM EST on NBC Sports Boston.
