FINAL
Celtics 99, Kings 81
BOSTON - The Celtics (22-23) controlled the game after the second quarter and were able to coast to a win.
Paul Pierce led Boston with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Six Celtics scored in double figures.
Tyreke Evans led the Kings (17-30) with 19 points and 11 rebounds. The Kings shot 39.2 percent for the game and committed 19 turnovers, leading to 27 points. The Kings had only one turnover in the first quarter.
The Celtics shot 53.4 percent.
The Kings play Friday at Philadelphia.
THIRD QUARTER
Celtics 80, Kings 60
BOSTON - The Kings added seven more turnovers in the third quarter which helped keep the Celtics comfortably ahead in the game.
The Celtics scored 11 of their 21 points in the quarter off Kings turnovers.
The only King that hasn't played in Tyler Honeycutt after Jimmer Fredette played six minutes in the third.
Jason Terry has 12 points off the bench for Boston to lead a balanced attack. The Celtics are shooting 54.2 percent and have 20 assists.
Tyreke Evans has 13 points and nine rebounds for the Kings.
HALFTIME
Celtics 59, Kings 38
BOSTON - The Celtics made their first 14 shots of the second quarter and shot 16-for-20 in a decisive second quarter.
Thirteen of Boston's points came off seven turnovers in the second quarter. The Kings shot 5-for-18 in the quarter.
The Kings went with their reserves in the second quarter and quickly saw their two-point lead become a 10-point deficit by time the starters began checking in with 6:25 left in the quarter.
By then the Celtics had all the momentum. Kevin Garnett (11 points) and Brandon Bass (10) both made all five of their shots for Boston in the first half.
Jason Thompson has nine points for the Kings, who have only five assists. The Celtics have 16 assists.
FIRST QUARTER
Kings 24, Celtics 22
BOSTON - The Kings got of to a bad start, trailing 8-0. But they settled down and took the lead on a dunk by Tyreke Evans to close the quarter.
Francisco Garcia started for John Salmons (stomach flu) and scored six points. Jason Thompson led the Kings with seven points.
Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with nine points.
The Kings forced six turnovers while committing only one against the Celtics, who are one of the league's best teams at forcing turnovers.
The Kings were outrebounded by Boston 13-9. That's an area the Kings should dominate against the Celtics' smaller frontline.
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