Pro Sports

Kings hold on, beat Celtics 107-96 to sweep season series

Posted March 19, 2021 7:00 am

By JIMMY GOLEN

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) dunks in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Friday, March 19, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) - Richaun Holmes had 25 points, 11 rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals, and the Sacramento Kings held on to beat Boston 107-96 on Friday night and earn their first season sweep of the Celtics since 2007.

De'Aaron Fox scored 29 points, Buddy Hield had 22 and Harrison Barnes had 15 points and 13 rebounds for Sacramento, which has won consecutive games for the first time since Feb. 6-7.

Jaylen Brown had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Boston, which lost for the fourth time in five games to again fall below .500.

The Celtics eliminated a 15-point, first-half deficit and went ahead briefly in the fourth quarter. Sacramento led 97-93 with two minutes left when Holmes blocked Jayson Tatum driving to the basket and started the fast break that ended when Hield pulled up for a 3-pointer to make it a three-possession game.

Holmes had another block, as well as a steal, on Boston's next possession before Fox's jumper made it 102-93.

The Kings led by as many as 10 in the first quarter and 15 in the second, and still held a 67-54 edge with eight minutes left in the third before Boston scored nine straight points. Payton Pritchard hit a 3-pointer to tie it 76-all with two minutes left in the quarter, and after Hield hit a 3, Pritchard made another to tie it again.

Boston finally retook the lead in the fourth when Grant Williams hit a 3-pointer to make it 87-86 with 7:33 to play. After again leading 91-90 with 4 1/2 minutes left, Boston gave up 10 of the next 12 points, including a banked 3-pointer by Holmes at the shot clock buzzer.

OPEN HOUSE

There were about 50 Celtics staffers in the stands '“ the first time the team has played in front of any fans in Boston since March 8, 2020, before the pandemic shut down the NBA season. The state will allow large arenas and ballparks to admit 12% of capacity starting Monday, but Friday's game was a test run.

Instead of surrounding the court with some of the Celtics' championship banners to provide a TV backdrop, they were returned to the rafters. The fans scattered among a half-dozen sections, a handful in each area.

TIP-INS

The Kings won the previous matchup with Boston on Feb. 3 116-111. ... According to the Celtics broadcast, they entered the night with a 7-0 record in their traditional home white uniforms and 13-20 in their alternative combinations, including 5-7 in the green ones they wore Friday.

UP NEXT

Kings: Visit 76ers on Saturday.

Celtics: Host Magic on Sunday.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Sacramento Kings center Hassan Whiteside (20) makes a move against Boston Celtics center Daniel Theis, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 19, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The Associated Press

Sacramento Kings guard Justin James (10) drives against Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 19, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The Associated Press

Sacramento Kings center Richaun Holmes (22) goes to the basket against Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) and guard Kemba Walker, right, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 19, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The Associated Press

Sacramento Kings guard Justin James (10) blocks a shot-attempt by Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 19, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The Associated Press

Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) grabs a rebound against Sacramento Kings center Hassan Whiteside (20) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 19, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The Associated Press

Boston Celtics employees cheer from their seats during an NBA basketball game between the Celtics and the Sacramento Kings, Friday, March 19, 2021, in Boston. TD Garden officials are preparing for the return of a limited amount of fans starting the week of March 22. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The Associated Press

Boston Celtics employees leave their seats during the half time break in an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Sacramento Kings, Friday, March 19, 2021, in Boston. TD Garden officials are preparing for the return of a limited amount of fans starting the week of March 22. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) The Associated Press

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