by Tony Renteria

photo credit: boston.cbslocal.com Celtics Marcus Smart takes one to the hoop against the Kings DeMarcus Cousins last season at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento

Former Sacramento Kings (7-13) King Isaiah Thomas said he really wanted to get back to Sacramento and show his skills when he looked at the schedule at  the beginning of the season but found the meeting between his new team the Boston Celtics (11-8) and his former team the Sacramento Kings would be in Mexico City on Thursday Dec 4th.

That suited Thomas just fine as he lead the Celts in scoring with 21 points in a 111-97 win over the Kings. This was the NBA’s third regular season game in Mexico City. Thomas who played with the Kings from 2011-14 also picked up nine assists. Thomas has been handy of late helping the Celts win five of their last six games.

Thomas has been a valuable commodity and  it has to make those in Sacramento wonder why’d they ever let him go in the first place. “I’m over it, but obviously you want to play good against your former team but you also want to win, because winning is the most important thing and today we did it.” said Thomas.

Thomas’ teammates Kelly Olynyk, also chalked up 21 points, Avery Bradley and Jay Crowder each shot for 20 points total in the ball game. The crowd was enthusiastic with a satisfactory draw of 18, 660.  The Kings Rudy Gay led the Kings in scoring with 18 and DeMarcus Cousins had 16.

Kings head coach George Karl said while the effort was appreciated he was disappointed in the loss, “I’m disappointed, I think we need to get more serious at the beginning of games. I do not know if tonight it was the altitude or the tempo or Boston playing well but they hit us hard at the start and we never recovered.”

When the Kings Rajon Rondo was hit with a double technical foul in the third quarter he left scoring only five points for the night in his second appearance against the Celtics since leaving his former team. The absence of Rondo late in the game hurt the Kings chances “it was a blow to our ability, because he’s been our engine this season.” said Karl. What’s a shame is that the Kings made the long trek all the way to Mexico and to lose in a game that was labeled a home game for the Kings.

The Kings who hosted the Boston Celtics in Mexico City as the NBA keeps up its presence with Latin fans on Thursday night. Rajon Rondo had a chance to get some personal revenge against the team that trade him last season to the Dallas Mavericks.   Of the two point guards playing against their former teams, it was Thomas who came out on top this evening in Mexico.

The Kings who were led by Gay and his 18 points on 7-13 shooting.  Gay continues to be the steady player that the Kings need heading into the new Arena next season.

The Kings Head up north to play the Houston Rockets on Saturday as Boston heads to the Lone Star state as well they face off against that same evening against the San Antonio Spurs.

Tony Renteria covers Kings basketball for http://www.sportsradioservice.com