SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento Kings welcome back one of their former starting point guards for the second straight game when Isaiah Thomas leads his Boston Celtics into Golden 1 Center.
DeMarcus Cousins has been the Kings' everything this season, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists and blocks per game. Unfortunately for Sacramento, the three-time All-Star will miss Wednesday's game due to league suspension after he picked up his 16th technical foul on Monday. The Kings are going to need to multiple players to step up if they have any chance at beating Boston.
The Celtics are rolling. They've won seven straight and they trail the Cavaliers by just 2.5 games for the best record in the Eastern Conference. Boston has no trouble scoring for coach Brad Stevens, posting 108.3 points per game, but they struggle a bit on the defensive end where they allow 105.6 points a night.
OPENING LINE
Celtics by 8.5
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Darren Collison and Ty Lawson vs. Isaiah Thomas -- The Pizza Guy is ready to deliver. Sacramento let Thomas go during the summer of 2014, choosing to sign Collison instead. Now an MVP candidate and the league's second leading scorer at 29.9 points per game, Thomas is back to show fans what they're missing once again. Collison and Lawson have to make Thomas work on the defensive end and keep the ball out of his hand, especially late in the game.
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WHERE THEY STAND
Kings: 20-32, fourth place in Pacific
Celtics: 33-18, second place in Atlantic
INJURY REPORT
Kings:G/F Garrett Temple (torn left hamstring) out until after All-Star break, F Omri Casspi (right calf strain) out, but hoping to return Friday, F Rudy Gay (torn left Achilles) out for season.
Celtics: SG Avery Bradley (Achilles) out, F Jonas Jerebko (nose) questionable, PG Demetrius Jackson (illness) questionable.
SERIES HISTORY
The Celtics swept the season series between these two teams last season and hold a 1-0 advantage this year. Boston holds a 181-117 all-time lead over the Kings and a 36-25 advantage during the Sacramento-era.
QUOTE
"We have to keep working on it, keep improving on it. It effects our team, he's been great. And we need him to be great every single night. He carries a heavy load for us and it's a tough deal to play a game without him." -Dave Joerger on Cousins' growth as a player following his suspension
