The Boston Celtics had their 10-game winning streak come to a dramatic end on Sunday afternoon against the Sacramento Kings after Marcus Smart's last-second shot attempt rimmed out.
Celtics point guard Kemba Walker stated that while Boston's phenomenal run was likely to come to an end, the starting unit has to be more aggressive on the offensive end and get off to a faster start:
"We knew it would come at some time. We're gonna get everybody's best." – #Celtics Kemba Walker on the team's 10-game winning streak being snapped by the Kings.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) November 17, 2019
"As starters, we have to be better; we can't wait. That definitely came back to bite us tonight." – #Celtics Kemba Walker on the loss and the slow start by the starters contributing to the defeat which snapped the team's 10-game winning streak.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) November 17, 2019
Jaylen Brown agreed, saying the Celtics “didn't deserve” to win the game and that everyone needs to be more locked in from a mental standpoint.
Jaylen Brown: “That ball was just sitting on the rim — and we didn’t deserve it.”
Said the Celtics need to be more mentally sound — starting with him.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) November 17, 2019
Jaylen Brown: “Definitely a game that I wish I could have back.”
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) November 17, 2019
Brown led the Celtics in scoring with 18 points while also adding eight rebounds and a pair of steals. Walker had 15 points and nine assists.
The Celtics were outscored 30-18 in the first quarter, which explains Walker's comments about having a sense of urgency and being ready to attack from the jump.
Boston cut the lead to four before the half, and they took the lead after outscoring the Kings 29-21 in the third quarter. The Celtics also led by four with under three minutes to play after Daniel Theis made a pair of free throws. However, the Kings battled back behind the hot shooting of Buddy Hield.
Hield gave the Kings the lead with a three then put Sacramento back on top after Jayson Tatum had answered with a mid-range jumper.
Boston would retake the lead after Walker found Theis underneath for a dunk, but Smart was whistled for a loose ball foul on Richaun Holmes with 13.3 seconds remaining.
Holmes made both free throws to put the Kings up 100-99, and Sacramento would hold on after Smart's floater rattled out at the buzzer.
The Celtics now have some motivation to come out firing when they take on the Suns in Phoenix on Monday.