Final: Celtics 99, Kings 89

The Celtics (18-33) won their third straight game last night, topping the Sacramento Kings (17-33), 99-89.

Without Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley, the Celtics relied heavily on Jared Sullinger, and he came through. Sullinger finished with a team-high 31 points.

Boston held one of the best offenses in the league to only 89 points on a mere 35% from the floor.

The C's got a collective effort from all 10 of their players tonight, and it was a total team win.

The good:

* I have to start with Sullinger. The big guy turned in his 16th double-double of the season with 31 points and 16 rebounds. It was also his fourth straight double-double. Sullinger battled with DeMarcus Cousins all night, who mirrored Sullinger's performance (31 points and 16 rebounds), but it was Sullinger and the C's who got the better of Cousins and the Kings. Over his last four games, Sullinger is averaging 23.8 points, 13.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks while shooting 52%.

* With both their starting point and shooting guards out, Boston's backcourt needed to step it, and boy did it ever. In their place, starters Phil Pressey and Gerald Wallace combined for 12 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists. Meanwhile, Jerryd Bayless chipped in with 19 points off the bench.

* Although Sacramento's top two scorers (Isaiah Thomas and Cousins) combined for 55 points, the C's did a nice job of shutting down everyone else. Besides those two, the Kings shot just 24%.

The bad:

* On a night where Rudy Gay did not play, one would have thought that Jeff Green would go off. But once again, Green disappointed. He shot 6-for-20 and was a -11. We expected too much after his 36-point outburst on Wednesday.


Boston will try and make it four in a row tomorrow night when they welcome the Dallas Mavericks. Tipoff if set for 6:00 pm.