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Celtics Discuss Capping Road Trip with Convincing Win vs. Kings: 'That Looks Like the Team I Recognize'
Finishing their six-game road trip with a 4-2 record will make for a far more enjoyable cross-country flight from Sacramento to Boston for the Celtics than if they went .500 on this taxing stretch away from home.
What will make them even happier is how they closed out the trip, delivering one of their most complete performances this season in a 132-109 win over the Kings.
The defending Eastern Conference champions only committed five turnovers and played inside-outside basketball, attacking downhill and consistently creating high-quality shots. They didn't lose focus or take their foot off the gas, and they quickly curbed any run the hosts made, including their last gasp in the final frame.
At 50-23, Boston is a game ahead of the third-seeded Sixers and within two of the first-place Bucks.
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After the victory, Jaylen Brown, who registered 27 points, five rebounds, and four assists, expressed the following about the win.
"That looks like the team I recognize. We came out, (and) we played (for) 48 minutes; we didn't take our foot off the gas, (and) we took care of business. Ended the road trip well, get back home and take care of business again."
Asked by NBC Sports Boston's Abby Chin how important it was for the Celtics to deliver a performance like this, one where they again looked the part of a title contender, Brown conveyed it was "super important."
"We dropped a couple of games on this trip that we probably shouldn't have. The Sacramento Kings (have) been playing good basketball, so we wanted to come in here and make a little bit of a statement."
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His head coach, Joe Mazzulla, stated the importance of maintaining proper perspective while appreciating his team's ability to learn from some of its struggles during this trying trip.
"If it wasn't nine games before the regular season was over and if we weren't in first place the entire year and this road trip was at the beginning of the year, and we were 4-2, everybody would be happy. And so, we have to maintain a level of perspective.
"Understand that this is a hard trip, and there were moments where we played really, really good basketball, and there were moments that we didn't. And I think we learned from that. And tonight, we were able to put a full 48 minutes together, and so that's something that we've got to continue."
Further Reading
Jaylen Brown is Uncertain About Future With Boston Celtics
[Film Room] the Primary Problem Plaguing the Celtics' Crunch-Time Defense
