The Boston Celtics Kristaps Porzingis (8) celebrates a three pointer next to the Sacramento Kings Harrison Barnes (40) during the first half at Boston Garden on Fri Apr 5, 2024 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
The Sacramento Kings (44-33) put it all out there Friday night but lost by a single point 101-100 to the Boston Celtics (61-16). With 7.4 second left in the game the Kings had possession. They took three shots and missed every one of them. They squandered a monster opportunity. De’Aaron Fox finished with 40 points in the lose.
Game recap: The Celtics extended their lead in the opening minutes of the third quarter quickly taking a 12 point lead 64-52. The Kings would have to battle back as they had done in the second quarter. Boston went on to outscore the Kings in the quarter 30-22 leading 84-72 with 12 minutes left in the game.
After falling behind in the fourth quarter by as much as 18 points, the Kings fought back taking a one point lead 100-99 with 11 seconds left on the clock. The Celtics took back the lead 101-100 with 7.4 seconds left in the game.
This was a crazy final sequence from Sacramento. De’Aaron Fox missed a 16-foot pullup jump shot; Murray got the offensive rebound and missed a seven-foot tip shot and a third Kings rebound.
Colby Jones missed a 4-foot tip shot and that was the game. Three chances and the Kings just could not pull it out. This loss was far more disappointing than their loss last night. They had a great opportunity to beat the best team in the NBA and failed.
The Kings outscored the Celtics in the fourth quarter 28-17 but just came up short. Fox had a superior game with 40 points. Domantas Sabonis finished with another double double, 16 rebounds and 16 points. Both Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray did pick up their game a tad but 10 points from either of these guys is underperforming.
Sacramento fell into eighth place with this loss with the Lakers a half a game behind them in ninth place. The Kings are in a very shaky position right now, on a dangerous path. Luckily the Rockets are in 11th four games behind the tenth place Warriors should the Kings fall further down in the standings.
Thursday night the Kings lost to the New York Knicks after establishing a 21 point lead . The final in that game was 120-109 in favor of the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Kings had a disappointing second half of basketball.
Game notes: The Kings faced an even greater challenge Friday night taking on the Celtics in Boston. The loss of Malik Monk was a blow to the Kings. He suffered an MCL sprain and was declared out for four to six weeks. Friday Monk addressed the possibility of an earlier return saying that his knee is feeling a lot better than expected. So an early return for Monk? Only time will tell but the Kings could sure have used him on Friday night.
Sunday evening the Kings move onto Brooklyn for a game with the Nets. The Kings do not want to lose a third game in a row. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 4:30 PM.










