Jayson Tatum poured in a game-high 25 points before injuring his left ankle, Payton Pritchard came off the bench to contribute 22 points and the Boston Celtics ran away from the host Sacramento Kings for a 113-95 victory on Monday.
Tatum also had seven rebounds and eight assists in 26 minutes before he came down on Domantas Sabonis’ foot after a 3-point attempt with 3:35 left in the third period.
Sabonis was slapped with a flagrant foul for having run under a 3-point shooter. Tatum, after several minutes on the floor, was able to take the two free throws — making one — before being replaced. The Celtics (53-19) led 79-68 at the time.
He did not return.
Seeking to prevent a three-game home losing streak, the Kings (35-36) hung without 10 through the end of the third quarter. But when Baylor Scheierman buried a 3-pointer and Derrick White dropped in a layup in the first 39 seconds of the final period, the lead was 15 and the Celtics coasted home for a sixth straight win.
Tatum and Pritchard connected on five 3-pointers apiece, helping the Celtics go 19-for-50 (38 percent) from beyond the arc and outscore the hosts 57-24 from deep.
Tatum shot 8-for-15 overall and Pritchard 8-for-18 as Boston avenged a 114-97 shellacking at home by the Kings in January.
Kristaps Porzingis tied Luke Kornet for team-high rebound honors with eight to go with 16 points for Boston, which won a third straight on the road to begin a six-game trip. Kornet finished with 13 points and White 12 to complement eight assists, tying Tatum for the team high.
DeMar DeRozan and Sabonis put up double-doubles for the Kings, DeRozan with a team-high 20 points and game-high 10 assists, Sabonis with 16 points and a game-high 17 rebounds.
Zach LaVine and Keon Ellis added 14 points apiece and Keegan Murray 13 for the Kings, who fell to 2-3 on a seven-game homestand.
–Field Level Media
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