The Boston Celtics are looking to bounce back quickly after a rough night at TD Garden-and they may have to do it without Jaylen Brown.
Coming off one of their worst shooting performances of the season in a 117-106 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the Celtics now turn their attention to the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. It’s a chance to reset, but it won’t be easy, especially if Brown, their leading scorer, isn’t available.
Brown’s Status in Question
Brown is officially listed as doubtful due to tightness in his left hamstring and a contusion on his right knee. He’s been the engine behind Boston’s offense this year, averaging 29.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. If he can’t go, it’s a significant blow to a Celtics team trying to avoid back-to-back home losses for the first time since early November.
Brown didn’t shy away from accountability after the loss to Atlanta.
“I don’t think we played to our standard tonight,” he said. “I don’t think I played to my standard, and that was a part of it.
The team feeds off of my energy as well. So being a leader, I got to be better.”
Three-Point Woes Sink the Celtics
Boston’s undoing on Wednesday came from beyond the arc. The Celtics shot just 9-of-34 from three-point range-an ice-cold 26.5%.
That’s eight attempts below their season average, and it showed. Meanwhile, Atlanta lit it up, hitting 18 threes with four different players knocking down multiple shots from deep.
The Celtics’ starters combined to go just 3-for-19 from deep. Brown was 0-for-5. Derrick White didn’t fare much better, finishing 1-for-5.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t mince words postgame.
“The game … we just shut it off,” Mazzulla said. “They got the best of us.
They played better than us. Just one of those nights for us.
They played well and we didn’t. Just move on.
… Just a bad day at the office.”
It was Boston’s first double-digit loss since Dec. 11 in Milwaukee-a rare stumble for one of the league’s top teams.
Kings Reeling but Dangerous
Sacramento comes into Friday’s matchup in a tough spot. The Kings dropped a heartbreaker to the 76ers on Thursday night, 113-111, after Tyrese Maxey hit a go-ahead layup with just 1.3 seconds left. That loss stretched Sacramento’s losing streak to seven games and dropped their road record to a dismal 3-21.
They’re 0-4 on their current six-game road trip, and while the record doesn’t inspire confidence, the Kings showed fight in Philadelphia. They led by 11 with under eight minutes to play before the Sixers mounted a late rally.
Zach LaVine returned to the lineup after missing two games with lower back soreness and scored 17 points. DeMar DeRozan led the team with 25. But down the stretch, Sacramento’s offense stalled, and head coach Doug Christie acknowledged the need for more creativity in crunch time.
“These are the ones that are frustrating,” Christie said. “I have to be better for them and get a little bit more ball movement down the stretch... so they can’t load up on him (DeRozan).”
First Meeting: Celtics Took Control Late
These two teams last met on January 1, when Boston left Sacramento with a 120-106 win. Brown struggled from deep in that game as well-just 1-for-9 from beyond the arc-but still poured in 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. That kind of impact, even when the shot isn’t falling, is exactly what the Celtics might miss if he’s sidelined Friday.
DeRozan paced the Kings with 25 points in that one, and Sacramento kept it close until midway through the fourth quarter before Boston pulled away.
Injury Notes
Boston center Neemias Queta missed Wednesday’s game due to illness but is listed as probable for Friday. Queta leads the team in rebounding with 8.0 boards per game and could provide a needed presence in the paint against a Kings team that isn’t shy about attacking the rim.
What’s at Stake
For Boston, Friday’s game is about getting back on track at home and avoiding a rare two-game skid in front of their fans. For Sacramento, it’s about trying to stop the bleeding on a road trip that’s quickly spiraling.
If Brown plays, the Celtics have a clear edge. If not, they’ll need someone else to step up-whether it’s Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, or another role player ready for the moment.
Either way, expect a hungry Boston team looking to reassert its identity after a humbling loss.