Payton Pritchard led the Boston Celtics with 21 points, including five 3-pointers, as they narrowly defeated the Sacramento Kings 101-100 on Friday night. Kristaps Porzingis contributed 20 points and 11 rebounds, marking his second consecutive double-double, aiding the NBA’s top team in securing their 12th consecutive home win following their clinch of home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Celtics have won 13 of their last 15 games.

De’Aaron Fox put on an impressive performance for the Kings, scoring 40 points, including a go-ahead 26-footer with 27 seconds remaining. However, despite the Celtics’ reserve player Xavier Tillman reclaiming the lead, Fox’s late jumper failed to find the mark, resulting in the Kings missing three potential game-winning shots in the final 7 seconds as the Celtics narrowly held on.

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla opted to rest his starters for much of the fourth quarter, allowing his reserves to take over late in the game. Porzingis appreciated the opportunity for his team’s chemistry to thrive in such moments, emphasizing the significance of their victory.

Domantas Sabonis contributed 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Kings, who have lost four of their last six games as they aim to avoid a spot in the play-in tournament. Despite Fox’s remarkable performance, Kings coach Mike Brown acknowledged the team’s struggles with shooting efficiency, as they shot just 38% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc.

Overall, both teams faced challenges in scoring early in the game, but the Celtics found their rhythm towards the end of the first quarter, while the Kings struggled to keep up. The absence of starters Jaylen Brown and Derrick White due to injuries impacted Boston’s lineup, but they managed to secure the win nonetheless.