Gordon Hayward avenges a critical foul 5.6 seconds earlier with a tie-breaking jumper with two seconds remaining, giving the Boston Celtics a 111-109 victory over hosts the Sacramento Kings.
Horford finishes the lob from the birthday boy 💪 pic.twitter.com/byDCqVOyPU— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 7, 2019
Al Horford recorded a double-double with 21 points and a game-high 11 rebounds while also finding time for a team-high seven assists as the Celtics completed a back-to-back sweep in northern California after shellacking the Golden State Warriors 128-95 on Tuesday night.
Drops 30 on the champs one night. Drains a game-winner the next night. Gordon Hayward is ballin out! pic.twitter.com/64kT4sMTo0— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 7, 2019
Harrison Barnes had a game-high 24 points for the Kings, who wrapped up a 1-3 homestand that dented their playoff hopes.
Hayward’s hoop occurred after the Kings had rallied from a late six-point deficit to gain a 109-all tie on three free throws by Buddy Hield with 7.6 seconds left.
The foul shots were the result of a foul called on Hayward while attempting to defend the potential game-tying shot.
Without calling a timeout, the Celtics rushed the ball up the court, and Hayward nailed a nine-footer for the winner.
After a timeout that allowed them to advance the ball, the Kings took a shot at a win, but Barnes’ 30-footer with two-tenths of a second remaining was off the mark.
Jayson Tatum scored 24 points to lead the Celtics. Morris had 19 points, Terry Rozier 16, Hayward 12 and Jaylen Brown 10 for Boston.
Hield finished with 23 points for the Kings, who have lost four of five as they pursue a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Fox complemented 16 points with seven assists for Sacramento, while Cauley-Stein had 19 points and Bogdan Bogdanovic 14.
Hayward buries the game winner with two seconds left in tonight’s @JetBlue Play of the Game! pic.twitter.com/wKSmCcrchN— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 7, 2019