Celtics Host Kings Aiming to Bounce Back

Can the Celtics recover from Wednesday's tough loss and continue their dominance over the Kings?

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Boston Celtics, currently tied for second place in the Eastern Conference, will host the struggling Sacramento Kings at TD Garden. The Celtics are looking to bounce back from a tough loss against the Atlanta Hawks, while the Kings will be without several key players due to injury. The Celtics have dominated the Kings in recent years, but the Kings did manage to win in Boston last year.

Why it matters

This game is an important test for the Celtics as they look to maintain their position in the Eastern Conference standings. A loss to the lowly Kings could be seen as a setback, while a convincing win would help the Celtics regain momentum after the tough loss to the Hawks.

The details

The Celtics (29-18) are currently tied for second place in the Eastern Conference, while the Kings (12-37) are tied for the worst record in the league. The Kings will be without several key players, including Russell Westbrook, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray, due to injury. The Celtics have dominated the Kings in recent years, with an 8-1 record in the last nine head-to-head matchups, but the Kings did manage to win in Boston last January.

  • The game will tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, January 30, 2026.
  • The Celtics last played on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, suffering a tough loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
  • The Kings' last win over the Celtics in Boston was in January 2025.

The players

Boston Celtics

An NBA team currently tied for second place in the Eastern Conference with a 29-18 record.

Sacramento Kings

An NBA team currently tied for the worst record in the league at 12-37.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must bounce back from that tough loss and show our dominance against the Kings.”

— Jaylen Brown, Celtics Guard (Instagram)

What’s next

The Celtics will look to build on a win against the Kings when they face the Knicks in a key Eastern Conference matchup on Sunday, February 2nd.

The takeaway

This game is a crucial test for the Celtics as they look to maintain their position in the Eastern Conference standings. A convincing win over the struggling Kings could help the Celtics regain momentum after the tough loss to the Hawks, while a loss would be seen as a setback.