Going into the closing seconds against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday evening, the Boston Celtics hadn’t experienced the bitter taste of defeat since opening night some three weeks ago. The Celtics have been catching opponents out with a surprisingly deft offense and a strong defense all season, winning blow-outs and close games alike. Everything the Celtics were supposed to be last season, they were now.
Marcus Smart and the Celtics finally feel the pain
We have that and more in Monday’s NBA newsletter.
Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
On Sunday, they learned they can still feel pain in defeat.
Marcus Smart had the ball and a chance to go for the win on the road in Sacramento. He drove and fired up a floater that looked pretty good on release. It bounced on the rim and hung there, frozen in time for a second with the Boston bench on that end trying with all their considerable might to will it in. But it rolled off after the buzzer sounded, and the Celtics took an L for just the second time this season.
Boston could actually be in a world of hurt now, having split the Northern California start of a five-game road trip. Next up: the Suns, Clippers, and Nuggets, three strong teams in the next five days. With Gordon Hayward out, the margin for error is smaller, as the loss in Sacramento showed.
The Heat and Bucks have kept up with the C’s through their win streak, and the Sixers are due some home games after a road-heavy start. It’s great that Boston is in such good shape this season. But with that fast start comes elevated expectations. Often, elevated expectations bring bitter disappointment. Let’s see if Sunday’s finish was a first taste of plenty more to come or just a one-off.
Scores
Sunday’s scores:
Sixers 114, Cavaliers 95
Celtics 99, Kings 100
Wizards 121, Magic 125
Nuggets 131, Grizzlies 114
Warriors 100, Pelicans 108
Hawks 101, Clippers 122
Schedule
All times ET. Games are on League Pass unless otherwise noted.
Cavaliers at Knicks, 7 p.m.
Pacers at Nets, 7:30 p.m.
Hornets at Raptors, 7:30 p.m.
Bucks at Bulls, 8 p.m.
Blazers at Rockets, 8 p.m., NBA TV
Spurs at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.
Celtics at Suns, 9 p.m.
Wolves at Jazz, 9 p.m.
Thunder at Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Links
Carmelo Anthony’s life chapters, ranked. Why the entire basketball world is rooting for Melo. Mike Prada on the Blazers’ transition year.
This dude on Monmouth is just hilarious. No better way to finish a 55-point loss at Kansas.
The Raptors aren’t giving Jonas Valanciunas, C.J. Miles, or Delon Wright — all traded in the middle of last season — championship rings. Drake got one, though!
But seriously, this LeBron James dunk on Nemanja Bjelica. Sheesh!
Be excellent to each other.
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