Boston Celtics demonstrate ‘the physicality it takes’ in blowout win over Sacramento Kings

The Kings’ loss Tuesday to the Boston Celtics, 132-109, pushed Sacramento to 0-6 against the top three teams in the Eastern Conference, including the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers.

That record against the elite teams in the East is a rare stain on Sacramento’s otherwise-sterling campaign, one which will include ending their 16-year playoff drought in the coming days. And as much as the Kings’ have enjoyed changing the culture of the franchise and all the excitement surrounding the “Beam Team,” simply making the postseason isn’t going to be enough to satisfy head coach Mike Brown or his players.

Tuesday’s defeat reiterated the difference between the Kings and the teams atop the NBA’s current hierarchy, which includes the Bucks, who also beat the Kings in Golden 1 Center last week.

“They’ve been to the playoffs and we haven’t,” Malik Monk said after the Celtics dealt Sacramento its second loss in two nights. “They know what it takes. They know the physicality it takes. We haven’t faced that until we played Boston and Milwaukee. We’re just trying to get where they are. It’s a great test, and great learning points, too.”

The physicality Monk mentioned manifested in turnovers and the other hustle stats, and led to a strong contingent of Boston fans chanting as the Kings left the floor.

The Celtics, owners of the NBA’s fourth-ranked defense in efficiency, turned 14 turnovers into 21 points. They did it while taking care of the ball, turning it over just five times, leading to six points for Sacramento. Boston also had a decided edge in second-chance points, 17-5, despite only having one more offensive rebound (11-10).

“Easy assessment, they kicked our behinds,” Brown said. “Starting with me, we all got our behinds kicked. Nothing tricky or hidden behind what I’m saying.”

The Celtics’ defense features length, athleticism and versatility, a triumvirate the Kings’ top-ranked offense has struggled with at times throughout the season. Boston often switched off Sacramento’s screens, leading to more isolation ball and fewer open looks than the Kings are used to getting.

All of which should be a template for what’s to come during playoff time.

“You got to play with pace in the halfcourt,” Brown said when asked how to counter the Celtics’ switch-heavy approach. “You gotta sprint off a screen and sometimes slip to the rim to cause a chain reaction. Your cuts have to be extremely hard, the ball has to be moved crisp, and if you catch the ball and somebody’s closing out to you, you can’t hesitate. ... When you hold it, all you’re doing is letting them get back in front.”