On Friday night at TD Garden, the Boston Celtics’ reserves held strong against a late surge from the Sacramento Kings, who clawed back from a 14-point deficit in the final quarter in their quest for a playoff spot. Despite their struggles, Joe Mazzulla stood by his second unit even when they missed all 10 of their shots when it mattered most.
Mazzulla’s gamble paid off as he chose not to call a timeout after a three-pointer from De’Aaron Fox put the Kings ahead by one with just 27 seconds remaining. Sam Hauser missed a shot through contact, but his hustle led to Xavier Tillman Sr. scoring a game-winning floater from the paint.
As the Celtics move on from their thrilling 101-100 win over Sacramento and focus on their upcoming game against the Portland Trail Blazers, they face injury concerns with their star players. Jayson Tatum, who had a solid performance with 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists against the Kings, is questionable due to a knee contusion. Jaylen Brown, who sat out the last game due to a hand injury, also carries a questionable designation.
Additionally, Jaden Springer, who has been sidelined with a knee issue, is uncertain for the matchup against the Trail Blazers. Despite these challenges, the Celtics are determined to maintain their momentum as they approach the end of the regular season.
