Pritchard Shines As Celtics Dominate Short-Handed Kings

The Boston Celtics delivered a resounding response to their recent setback by steamrolling the Sacramento Kings 112-93 on January 30, 2026, at TD Garden. After a disheartening home loss to the Atlanta Hawks just two days prior, Boston wasted no time asserting control, never trailing as they notched their second wire-to-wire victory of the week. This dominant performance came despite the absence of All-Star Jaylen Brown, sidelined with left hamstring tightness and a right knee contusion—a double blow that could have rattled a lesser squad.

But the Celtics, now 30-18 on the season, looked anything but shaken. They jumped out to a commanding 11-1 lead in the opening minutes, forcing Kings coach Doug Christie to burn an early timeout. The starting lineup featured Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta, and Baylor Scheierman, the latter stepping into Brown’s shoes as a starter for the fourth time this season. The Kings, meanwhile, arrived in Boston battered and shorthanded, missing three key contributors—Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, and Russell Westbrook—on the second night of a back-to-back after a heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss in Philadelphia.

From the opening tip, Payton Pritchard took center stage. The energetic guard erupted for 11 points and five assists on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting in the first quarter, orchestrating the offense with the poise of a seasoned quarterback. "I feel like I did a good job of making the right reads," Pritchard said after the game. "Getting to my spots. Reading the driving lanes, I thought I made good passing reads. Almost like a QB, you’re always making the right read, taking what the defense gives you. I thought I did that at a high level in the first half."

Pritchard’s first-half stat line was jaw-dropping: 22 points, eight assists, 9-of-11 from the floor, and 4-of-5 from deep. By halftime, Boston led 72-46, capping a 25-6 run to close the second quarter. The Celtics shot a blistering 65.1% from the field in the opening half, including a remarkable 85% on two-pointers (17-for-20), and did not miss a single shot at the rim. The Kings, by contrast, struggled mightily, connecting on just 33.3% of their two-point attempts before the break and managing only one make inside the restricted area.

The Celtics’ early success was a true team effort, with Neemias Queta making an immediate impact in his return from illness. Queta, who was drafted by Sacramento in 2021 and later waived, seemed extra motivated facing his former team. He scored or assisted on five of Boston’s first seven made baskets, finishing the night with 10 points, a game-high 15 rebounds, three steals, and one block. "I think I recovered pretty well," Queta reflected. "The last couple games, it was a little bit hard to go out there and just try to help the team. So getting these last couple of days off just to recover and get back to full strength, that was huge for me. I felt good out there."

With Brown out, Baylor Scheierman seized his opportunity, delivering 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting (4-for-7 from three), five rebounds, an assist, and a steal in 31 minutes. His energy was palpable, especially in the third quarter, where he contributed two threes and several hustle plays. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla praised Scheierman’s growth: "He’s developed into a utility guy for us defensively where he can defend different matchups. He’s made some plays. He draws some illegal screens for us. He can make defensive plays, but he knows how to play versus cross-matches at the other end. He’s been making some shots, and he offensive rebounds. So I’m pleased with where he’s grown defensively for us."

Boston’s depth was on full display, as six players finished in double figures. Derrick White, though quiet as a scorer with seven points, dished out a game-high nine assists and recorded two blocks. The Celtics’ ball movement was crisp, resulting in 17 combined assists from Pritchard and White. Backup big man Luka Garza chipped in with three offensive rebounds and nine first-half points, while Hugo Gonzalez’s hustle set up a key second-chance three-pointer by Pritchard.

Though the Celtics’ offense cooled in the second half—managing just 17 points in the third quarter and 23 in the fourth—their lead never dipped below 16. The Kings, led by Zach LaVine’s 17 points (he sat the final 18 minutes), tried to mount a comeback with a 15-7 run early in the second quarter but simply couldn’t keep pace. Sacramento shot just 37.3% from the field and committed 16 turnovers, several unforced, as Boston’s defense tightened the screws.

The closing moments provided a dash of drama. With the Celtics comfortably ahead, coach Mazzulla gave Chris Boucher his first minutes since November 23. Boucher, perhaps eager to make his mark, drained a buzzer-beating three-pointer as time expired—a move that visibly irked Westbrook, who was in street clothes on the Kings’ bench. A brief postgame confrontation ensued, but Pritchard stepped in as peacemaker and the exchange ended amicably. "They were just upset for shooting the last shot," Pritchard explained. Mazzulla, meanwhile, shrugged off the incident: "I didn’t see [the altercation]. But what are you going to do?"

The win improved Boston’s record to 3-1 without Brown this season, the lone loss coming in a last-second heartbreaker at Indiana on January 12. The Celtics’ ability to thrive in the face of adversity speaks volumes about their depth and resilience. "It’s important that [Brown] get the rest that he needs and it’s important that we continue to develop and grow as a team," Mazzulla said. "Multiple things come out of that. I always like when some of those guys sit because they get to see the game from a different perspective. It builds affirmation in the guys that we have and regardless of who’s in and who’s out, the expectation is to win and that’s something we’ve been really good at over the few years here."

Looking ahead, the Celtics will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, February 1, 2026, for the NBA Pioneer Classic. The Bucks, missing their own superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, present another opportunity for Boston to build momentum as the Eastern Conference playoff race heats up. With contributions coming from every corner of the roster and spirits high after a convincing bounce-back win, the Celtics are poised to keep rolling.