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Celtics 99, Kings 89
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
BOSTON — The Boston Celtics, playing without their starting guard, exploded on a 19-2 fourth-quarter run and captured their third straight win on Friday night.
With both guards Rajon Rondo (soreness) and Avery Bradley (ankle) sitting out, forward Jared Sullinger scored nine of his 31 points and guard Jerryd Bayless hit two 3-pointers and ran the offense during the run to power Boston to a 99-89 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Sullinger, who also had 16 rebounds, scored 14 points in the fourth quarter.
Bayless, who came off the bench, had 19 points and four assists and forward Jeff Green scored 17 points despite a 6-of-20 shooting night.
The Kings, playing without forward Rudy Gay (illness) and guard Marcus Thornton (hip, knee) saw their two-game winning streak snapped despite 31 points and 16 rebounds by center DeMarcus Cousins and 24 points and six assists from guard Isaiah Thomas.
Swingman Gerald Wallace, starting at guard, had eight points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and two steals for the Celtics, while rookie forward Kelly Olynyk came off the bench with 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Kings used a 14-3 run in the final minutes of the first quarter to go up by eight at the end of one. But the Celtics scored the last two points of the quarter to start a 12-0 run that put them ahead by two. The teams went back and forth and Boston led by three at the break.
Sacramento scored the first six points of the third quarter, prompting Celtics coach Brad Stevens to call a quick timeout. Whatever he said worked as his team went on a 10-0 run out of the timeout — eight of the points by Sullinger. But ahead by seven, the Celtics saw the visitors score seven straight points and it was tied again.
Boston opened a six-point lead but led by two at the end of the third quarter.
Thomas and Bayless drew technical fouls for a near scrap in the fourth quarter.
NOTES: G Rajon Rondo (general soreness) and G Avery Bradley (ankle) were out for Boston, while F Rudy Gay (illness) and F Marcus Thornton (hip, knee) were out for the Kings. The Celtics were also missing backup C Vitor Faverani (knee). … Rondo, still being brought along after returning from knee surgery, is slated to play at home against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday but sit Monday night in Milwaukee on the back end of a back-to-back. … The Celtics signed G Chris Johnson for the rest of the season. … Sacramento C DeMarcus Cousins was passed over when New Orleans C Anthony Davis was named to replace Kobe Bryant in the All-Star Game. Cousins, averaging 22.7 points and 11.6 rebounds before Friday night, is the only Top 10 scorer in the league not picked for the game. … The Kings continue their four-game road trip at Washington on Sunday.
