The Boston Celtics kick off a two-game home stretch with the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. The Celtics are coming off a much-needed win in a showdown between both recent NBA Championship teams and will look to keep the momentum at home against the Kings.

This is the 1 st of a 3-game road trip for the Kings. They won Monday night at home in double overtime 123-118 against the Miami Heat. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 30 points. Boston is back home after a 118-106 win in Denver over the Nuggets behind 29 from Jayson Tatum.

De’Aaron Fox appeared on the injury report Friday morning with a glute injury, and the Kings are expected to be without him. Fox was seen participating in Kings’ shootaround earlier in the day, but it looks as though the star point guard will be unable to play in Friday’s game.

It has been apparent even to the untrained eye that KP has not been himself when on the court for the Celtics since returning from an ankle injury.

When speaking to the media following the game, Kristaps Porzingis admitted Boston had made some uncharacteristic errors during the game. He noted how they had been "stupid" with some of their decision-making and that the Thunder's defensive intensity was a genuine factor in Boston's loss.

Suddenly, a Boston Celtics team that ripped off a seven-game win streak in November before hitting a December slump looks primed for another run, especially after a 3-1 road trip to kick off the new year.