On January 11th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, with the reigning champion Celtics facing off against the Kings at home. The Kings carried on their recent excellent form, taking control of the game and even widening the gap at one point. However, after the Celtics launched a counterattack, both teams became embroiled in a seesaw battle. In the final quarter, the Kings scored continuously to pull away, ultimately defeating the defending champions 114-97 and securing their sixth consecutive victory.
In the first quarter, Brown hit a one-on-one shot, Monk sank a three-pointer, and Porzingis immediately responded in kind. Both teams started well offensively, with Murray hitting two consecutive threes. The scoring went back and forth, with the lead changing hands. Sabonis and Ellis hit threes, giving the Kings the upper hand. Porzingis hit a three to stop the bleeding, but Sabonis hit another three, causing the Celtics' offense to dip. Monk hit another three, giving the Kings a 27-20 lead. Tatum hit a three to keep up, DeRozan scored on a drive, Carter hit a three, and Pritchard responded, leaving the Celtics trailing 27-34 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Celtics launched a counterattack, while the Kings' shooting dropped sharply, with only one successful attempt out of their first ten shots. Porzingis hit a three, White completed a 2+1 play, and a 16-3 run helped the Celtics take the lead. Lyles made free throws to stem the tide, Ellis completed a 2+1 play to stabilize the situation, and Tatum hit a three. Both teams were locked in a tug-of-war, with the Celtics slightly ahead. Just as they were about to widen the gap, Lyles scored on a putback, and DeRozan completed a 2+1 play, leveling the score again. Finally, Tatum broke through for a basket, giving the Celtics a 55-53 halftime lead.
After the break, Porzingis continued to score, Monk hit a three in response, and Sabonis also scored consecutively. Brown and Holiday hit threes, giving the Celtics a 68-60 lead. The Kings then fought back, with DeRozan driving for a basket, Tatum hitting another three, and the Kings scoring repeatedly. The Celtics' shooting stalled, while Sabonis continued to score inside, successfully closing the gap. Hauser hit a jumper to steady the situation, Carter scored on a drive, and Murray dunked after a drive. At the end of the third quarter, the Kings had successfully tied the score at 76.
In the fourth quarter, the Kings opened up with a flurry of inside and outside scoring, with Murray and Sabonis hitting threes in succession. They went on a 21-7 run to pull away, while the Celtics were unable to respond, effectively ending the suspense of the game. Ultimately, the Kings defeated the Celtics 114-97, securing their sixth consecutive victory.
After the coaching change, the Kings have been on a hot streak, achieving a record of six wins and one loss. This time, Sabonis recorded a double-double with 23 points and 28 rebounds, setting a new career high in rebounds. Monk scored 22 points, and DeRozan added 24 points. For the Celtics, Brown scored 28 points, Porzingis had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Tatum contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds.