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A Unique Look at Tonight’s Kings vs. Celtics
12/26/2007

The Kings (11-15) battle the Boston Celtics (22-3) tonight at 7 p.m.
Viewed: Comcast SportsNet -- Heard: Sports 1140 KHTK!
-- Listen Live ONLINE!

1) The Kings host the Celtics tonight at ARCO Arena. It's the second of two meetings between the pair this season. Last time these two met was two weeks ago and the Kings played well enough to win through three quarters. The Celtics, however, pulled away in the fourth quarter and went on to beat the visiting Kings, 90-78. Ron Artest and Beno Udrih led the Kings scoring effort with 16 points apiece. The Celtics were guided by Paul Pierce's 26 points.

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2) As mentioned, the Kings played the Celtics very well in Boston. They held the talented Celtics to a mere 39 percent shooting from the field, 27 percent from long range and outrebounded the Celtics 35-33. While the Kings defense was solid, having held early-season MVP favorite Kevin Garnett to just 11 points and six rebounds in 36 minutes, the Celtics defense lived up to it's league-leading-scoring-differential-billing. The Kings scored a season-low 78 points in large part to two statistics. They managed just 12 free throw attempts (11 made) and committed 22 turnovers.

3) The Kings have scored 100-plus points in four of their last five outings. In the past seven games, they have allowed only two opponents to score more than 100 points -- New Jersey Nets (101) and Denver Nuggets (106). Hitting the century mark has been a great thing for the Kings this season. They are 10-5 in 100-plus point games and 8-6 when holding opponents to under 100 points.

4) Since losing to the Detoit Pistons at home last Wednesday, Boston beat the Chicago Bulls by 25 points on Friday and then beat the Orlando Magic by 12 on Sunday. Like the Kings, tonight's contest is the Celtics first since Sunday.

5) Kevin Garnett is arguably the greatest power forward of his generation and one of the best at the four in NBA history. Garnett maintains career averages 21 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks, five assists and two steals per game in 952 games. So, why in a year that he is averaging fewer points and rebounds than his career average is The Big Ticket getting much of the early season hype to win the regular season MVP? Aside from being the defensive catalyst for the Celtics, he’s also the vocal veteran leader. It’s something that won't win him the trophy alone, but earns him the respect of his peers and MVP voters. While some of KG's stats have dropped, he’s still efficient -- ranking, as usual, in the top five in the league. In 35 minutes of action, KG is averaging 19 points (56 percent from the field), 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block per game. But the MVP talk is really bolstered by one thing, winning. KG and the Celtics have lost only three games in their first 25 games and are winning by an average of 14 points -- both NBA bests.

Closing thought:
The last game between these two was fantastic and tonight should be no different. Be here LIVE to see the Kings take on the BIG THREE and the Celtics at ARCO Arena. The Kings are 8-5 at home this season and 3-1 against Eastern Conference foes in Sacramento. ARCO Arena has been on Fire and you can be here tonight! Buy Tickets Now!

Injuries:
Kings: Mike Bibby (out) is recovering from surgery on his left thumb. Shareef Abdur-Rahim (out) is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Kevin Martin (out) is recovering from a strained right groin.

Celtics: No injuries to report.




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