Kings vs. Celtics Preview – By the Numbers
The Kings are finally home, but they don’t have time to rest before taking on the Celtics tonight in their 5th game in 7 nights. All year the Kings have been a game or two behind the rest of the league in games played, and it’s catching up to them now. After a tough loss against the Jazz, let’s see what the Kings can do to get back in the win column against the Eastern conference contender.
The Kings did something that they normally don’t do last night, and that’s struggle on offense. Utah threw a zone at the Kings for pretty much the whole game and the Kings couldn’t quite figure out how to get around it. They scored a season low 19 1st quarter Points and couldn’t make up the big deficit in the end. Sacramento made 19 3’s but it took them 52 attempts to get there, good for a 36.5% clip. They just didn’t seem to have the same flow that they normally have.
Things won’t get any easier going up against the Celtics, who not only come in with the 4th ranked offense, but also the 4th ranked defense in the NBA. They bring a balanced approach on defense and hold opponents to 46.5% from the field, 5th lowest in the league. They don’t have the big time shot blocker, but hold opponents to 48.5 Points in the Paint per game, 10th least in the NBA. The Kings will have to get going either inside or beyond the arc tonight, unlike last night where they couldn’t get much going inside.
Be ready for a barrage of threes from the Celtics tonight. They shoot 42.3 per game, 2nd to only the Warriors, and make them at a 37.6% clip, 7th in the league and right ahead of the Kings 37.4%. Everyone starts the Celtics conversation with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but when it comes to the 3-point shooting, it really should start with Al Horford. He is shooting a career high 45.7% from 3 on a nice volume of 5.0 attempts per game. His ability to stretch the floor gives Tatum and Brown all the room they need to attack the rim or stop in the mid-range. Throw in Malcolm Brogdon’s 45.7% 3P%, Sam Hauser’s 41.5%, and Grant Williams’ 40.6%; Boston has no shortage of players who will hurt you from deep.
For the Kings, De’Aaron Fox tried his best to will the team to victory last night. He ended with 37 Points, 7 Assists, 4 Rebounds, 1 Steal, and only 1 Turnover on 14-of-21 (66.7%) from the field and 6-of-9 (66.7%) from 3.
Last time these two teams faced off, the Celtics held Fox to 20 Points on 6-of-17 (35.3%) shooting from the field and 3-of-9 (33.3%) from 3. Fox has been on a bit of a heater from deep recently, so if the Celtics want to give him the 3 tonight again, he could make them pay for it. In the last 5 games, Fox has shot 45.9% from beyond the arc. When he gets going from deep, he becomes nearly unguardable, putting defenders in lose-lose situations of defending the 3 or the attack.
The other Kings member who has lit it up from 3 lately is Keegan Murray. He’s made 11 3’s in the last two games on 45.8% shooting and is still on pace to break the all-time rookie record of 187 made 3’s. He sits at 172 with 11 games left, and only needs 15 to tie and 16 to break the record. We’ve seen Keegan have games like last night time and time again, and he very well could break the record in 3 or 4 more games. The Kings have so many great storylines this season that Keegan doesn’t get as much love as he probably should, but he’s having a heck of a season and is showing growth almost every game. That’s pretty much all you can ask for from a Rookie, and he just continues to deliver.
