Tatum, Brown lead Celtics in 128-75 laugher over Kings

Published Jan. 25, 2022 9:51 p.m. ET

Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 36 points and Jaylen Brown had 30 points and 10 rebounds before both rested the entire fourth quarter as the Boston Celtics routed the Sacramento Kings 128-75 on Tuesday night.

Robert Williams finished with 13 points and 17 rebounds for the Celtics, who got off to a torrid start and never let up on the Kings, even when both teams went to reserves for the fourth quarter of a game that had been long decided. Boston stretched its lead to 60 points before it was over.

Buddy Hield led the Kings with 11 points. He was the only Sacramento player to score in double figures as the Kings lost their fourth straight. Richaun Holmes had nine points and nine rebounds and Tyrese Haliburton added seven assists for Sacramento.

The Celtics went on an 11-0 run early in the first quarter, then added a 16-0 spurt later in the period while holding the Kings scoreless for a stretch of 5:05. Boston led 38-13 after one.

Brown alone outscored Sacramento with 15 points in the first quarter and had a nice assist with a long bounce pass to set up Robert Williams for a dunk. Grant Williams also hit a 3-pointer during the 16-0 run and grabbed his own rebound after a miss and put it back up for a layup that Maurice Harkless blocked but was called for goaltending, putting Boston up 33-7.

A 3-pointer by Josh Richardson with 1.1 seconds left in the second quarter gave Boston a 63-30 halftime lead. It was the third straight game the Kings allowed 60 points in the first half.

Brown opened the third quarter with a 15-foot jumper, then hit back-to-back 3-pointers. He finished the game 11-for-19, making 5 of 12 3s.

TIP-INS

Kings: Leading scorer De’Aaron Fox missed his second straight game with a left ankle injury. ... The Kings made 1 of 12 3-pointers in the first quarter while shooting 17% (5-for-29) from the floor. It didn’t get much better in the second quarter as Sacramento finished the half 10-for-49 overall and 1-for-20 from beyond the arc.

Celtics: Tied their season high for first-quarter scoring with 38 points. ... Tatum had 11 points in the first and Williams had seven rebounds. ... G Marcus Smart was scoreless in his second game back from COVID-19 protocols but did have seven assists. ... Aaron Nesmith added 10 points. ... The Celtics had lost their previous two meetings with Sacramento.

UP NEXT

Kings: Finish a back-to-back with a visit to Atlanta on Wednesday night.

Celtics: At Atlanta on Friday night.

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