5 takeaways as Celtics fail to lose to Kings

The Boston Celtics fought back, but could not complete a return against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, 107-96.

This is what happened as the Celtics dropped another confusing loss.

The big picture

The Celtics fell behind early and spent the rest of the game trying to work their way back. Taking a one-half lead in the fourth quarter, the Kings responded with a flurry of baskets – two from De’Aaron Fox, and a couple of three-pointers by Buddy Hield and Richaun Holmes. Holmes’ three-pointer was particularly breakthrough – he banked it from the top of the key when the shot clock expired.

It looks like the Celtics never tripled from Holmes and lost the rest of the way in their third consecutive loss.

Player of the game

De’Aaron Fox – 29 points, 11-for-21 shooting, 5 assists, 2 steals

Fox chose the Celtics apart, especially next to the piece. The Celtics struggled this season with fast, talented ball handlers, and after the Celtics fought back, he fueled the 10-2 run that helped put the game away.

What it means

It’s getting ugly. The Celtics have suffered a number of disappointing losses this season, and Friday was no exception. The Kings are a good attacking team, but the Celtics need to have more than enough talent to avoid a 15-point deficit, and they need to have enough talent to dig themselves completely out of the hole.

The Celtics are again below 0.500 at 20-21.

Takeaways

1. The Celtics’ defense was terrible two quarters and the rest of the way inadequate when they tried to make up the difference. According to the clearing of the glass, which is 18th in the NBA, the Celtics gave up 113 points per 100 possessions. Combine the defensive fight with a foul that shot 43 percent off the floor and yielded just seven free throws, and Friday night’s result makes a lot of sense.

2. The Celtics needed more from Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker. During Friday’s game, Tatum looked sluggish on both sides, finishing with 15 points on 6-for-16 shooting. Walker looked healthy, but he scored just 16 points on 6-for-18 shooting.

Walker may still be working back, and Tatum is still dealing with the COVID-19 effects, but the end result is the same: the Celtics are not going to win games if Tatum and Walker both struggle.

3. Payton Pritchard gave the Celtics a few minutes off the bench. He made two big three-pointers to keep up in the third quarter and played in the fourth energetic defense. Pritchard has struggled a bit since returning from his knee injury, but getting good minutes away from him is an awkward amount for a team hoping for a good post-season run.

4. Richaun Holmes and the Kings’ blockers gave the Celtics a pass – Sacramento scored nine shots as a team. Holmes was responsible for three, while Hassan Whiteside added two in 15 minutes. The Celtics’ inability to finish around the edge was representative of their struggle everywhere – absolutely nothing was easy, including the lineup.

5. Brad Stevens spoke at length about the Celtics’ lack of decisive after-game, and asked that the team put in a better effort.

“We need to be able to move past a foul or a missed shot or a missed opportunity, or to bank a shot from three and go on,” Stevens said. ‘Show a good attitude, be a little determined and put it through the game, and we have not done that yet. It’s clear. And our challenge to move forward is the only way we do it as a team. So you have to get engaged to each other and you have to fight through these difficult times, and if you are not going to do that, there will be much more difficult times. …

‘IIt has to be 17 guys to play well together, and I think the fun follows that. You share it. You dive on the floor, you jump back, you are difficult every time. ‘