Game Details
The Boston Celtics (20-12) will battle the Sacramento Kings (8-25) in an interconference matchup. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET.
It will be held at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, the home arena of the Kings.
Broadcast options include NBCS-BOS for Celtics viewers and NBCS-CA for Kings fans, with national coverage potentially on NBA TV.
This marks the first meeting between the teams this season, following Boston’s 113-95 victory over Sacramento on March 24, 2025.
Recent Team Forms
The Celtics are in solid form, winning their last game 129-119 against the Utah Jazz on December 31, 2025, extending a two-game streak.
Over their last 10 games, Boston has gone 7-3, averaging 116.9 points per game while allowing 110.8, bolstered by strong three-point shooting and defense ranking top-5 league-wide.
Key wins include a 136-107 blowout over Washington and a 109-108 thriller at Philadelphia.
The Kings have struggled, winning just 113-107 against the Dallas Mavericks in their most recent outing but dropping eight of their last 10.
Sacramento averages 111.0 points but concedes 122.3, with defensive woes and injuries hampering their rebuilding efforts.
Their 2-8 stretch includes heavy losses like 133-100 to Atlanta and 144-117 to Minnesota.
| Team | Last 5 Games | Streak | PPG (Last 10) | Opp PPG (Last 10) |
| Boston Celtics | W-W-L-W-L | W2 | 116.9 | 110.8 |
| Sacramento Kings | W-L-L-L-L | W1 | 111.0 | 122.3 |
Injury Report
The Celtics have multiple players sidelined or questionable, impacting depth. Jayson Tatum is questionable with a right Achilles issue.
Chris Boucher is questionable for personal reasons.
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Ron Harper Jr., Max Shulga, and Amari Williams are out due to G League assignments or knee concerns.
For the Kings, Domantas Sabonis is out with a left knee partial meniscus tear, expected to miss 4-5 more weeks.
Zach LaVine is out with a left ankle sprain.
Dylan Cardwell is out on G League assignment.
| Team | Player | Status | Injury/Details |
| Boston Celtics | Jayson Tatum | Questionable | Right Achilles |
| Boston Celtics | Chris Boucher | Questionable | Personal Reasons |
| Boston Celtics | Ron Harper Jr. | Out | G League – Two-Way |
| Boston Celtics | Max Shulga | Out | G League – Two-Way |
| Boston Celtics | Amari Williams | Out | Knee / G League |
| Sacramento Kings | Domantas Sabonis | Out | Left Knee – Partial Meniscus Tear |
| Sacramento Kings | Zach LaVine | Out | Left Ankle Sprain |
| Sacramento Kings | Dylan Cardwell | Out | G League – Two-Way |
Key Player Matchups
With injuries depleting both rosters, this game will spotlight perimeter battles and interior mismatches.
Jayson Tatum (Celtics) vs. De’Aaron Fox (Kings): If Tatum plays (24.8 PTS, 8.2 REB), his scoring versatility will challenge Fox (26.1 PTS, 6.4 AST), who must navigate Boston’s elite wing defense without Sabonis’ support.
Jaylen Brown (Celtics) vs. DeMar DeRozan (Kings): Brown (23.4 PTS) faces DeRozan (21.5 PTS), a mid-range duel where Boston’s athleticism could limit Sacramento’s veteran scorer.
Kristaps Porzingis (Celtics) vs. Kings Frontcourt: Porzingis (20.1 PTS, 7.8 REB) exploits the Kings’ weakened interior sans Sabonis, potentially dominating rebounds (+6.1 edge for Boston).
Boston’s depth gives them matchup advantages overall.
Series History
The Celtics lead the all-time series 193-120 in 313 regular-season games.
At Golden 1 Center, Boston has won 7 of the last 8 encounters, including a 113-95 road victory on March 24, 2025.
In the last 10 meetings, the Celtics hold an 8-2 edge, often covering spreads in high-scoring affairs.
Betting Trends
The Celtics are 15-17 ATS overall but 10-7 ATS on the road, while the Kings are 12-21 ATS and 5-10 ATS at home.
The over has hit in 6 of the last 10 head-to-heads, but Sacramento’s poor defense (bottom-5) often pushes totals higher despite recent unders in Kings games.
Game Odds
Boston Celtics – 9.5
Sacramento Kings 227.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, December 31, 2025
