The Boston Celtics’ struggles continued Friday night as they suffered a 114-97 loss to the Sacramento Kings, capping off a disappointing performance at TD Garden. Despite entering the fourth quarter tied, the Celtics quickly unraveled, allowing the Kings to shoot 61% from the field and 8-of-11 from three-point range in the final frame. The loss marked the Celtics’ fifth in their last eight home games and their seventh in their last 15 overall, highlighting an ongoing inconsistency that’s plagued them recently.
Offensive Woes and Defensive Slippage
For most of the game, the Celtics had been competitive, but a combination of poor shooting and defensive lapses in the fourth quarter allowed Sacramento to pull away. Boston struggled offensively, unable to capitalize on key opportunities, which in turn put pressure on their defense. Head coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged this after the game, explaining, “When you’re having inefficient offense, it puts pressure on your defense. It just wears on you.”
The Celtics’ inability to make shots began to affect their effort on defense. For example, in one key play, Malik Monk was left wide open for a three-pointer, and when he missed, the Celtics failed to secure the rebound. Domantas Sabonis then grabbed the loose ball and hit an uncontested three of his own. It was a sign of how the Celtics’ frustration, stemming from poor offense, led to breakdowns on the other side of the court.
“If you’re going to shoot 28% from three, you’re going to have to do a bunch of other things really well,” Mazzulla added. “It puts pressure on your defense throughout the game.”
The Snowball Effect
As shots continued to miss, the Celtics got desperate, resorting to risky plays like Jaylen Brown’s attempt to steal the ball. While it was a moment of trying to ignite the team, it backfired when Brown’s blitz left the Kings with an easy open corner three. This typified a snowball effect — missed shots, failed defensive assignments, and poor decision-making that allowed Sacramento to cruise in the final stretch.
The frustration boiled over among the fans, who booed midway through the fourth quarter. It was a familiar scene, as the Celtics’ inconsistent performances have been a theme over the past month. The offense has been inefficient, while defensive focus has been sporadic, particularly in crunch time.
A Growing Concern
Though the Celtics are the reigning NBA champions and deserve some leeway, the team’s recent struggles can’t be ignored. Whether it’s poor shooting, turnovers, or defensive lapses, the problems have persisted. Jayson Tatum echoed this sentiment, saying, “Our offense, whether it’s spacing or not shooting as well, all those things play a part, and our defense needed to do better.”
The Celtics’ 15-game sample size now shows a concerning trend, and the time for “we have to be better” press conferences may be running out. The team needs to address these issues quickly or risk losing their grip on a top spot in the Eastern Conference. The road ahead remains challenging, but if the Celtics can refocus, they still have time to rediscover their championship form.
