The Boston Celtics needed a closer on Thursday night in Sacramento. Jaylen Brown delivered. With 29 points and 10 rebounds, the four-time All-Star put his stamp on a 120-106 win over the Kings, a result that pushed Boston to 3-1 on a five-game road swing and reminded the league how many ways the Celtics can hurt you.

This wasn’t a highlight-reel three-point clinic from Brown. He went just 1-of-9 from deep. It didn’t matter. He kept coming, attacking the paint, hitting six free throws, and controlling the glass. When the game tilted late, Boston pulled away with poise, balance, and timely makes.

Jaylen Brown sets the tone for Celtics vs. Kings

Brown’s line tells the story: 29 points, 10 boards, and four assists on 11-of-25 shooting. He did the hard work when shots from outside weren’t falling. He hunted mismatches, put pressure on the rim, and cleaned the defensive glass to end possessions. That is winning basketball on the road.

He even weathered foul trouble, eventually fouling out late in the fourth quarter. By then, the Celtics had done the job. His push had given Boston a lead with enough breathing room to close without panic.

“If Brown is giving you 10 boards on an off night from three, the East should worry.“

Role players lift Boston: Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser

Games like this highlight why Boston’s rotation is built to travel. Payton Pritchard punched above his size again, finishing with 16 points and six assists. He pushed pace, organized the half-court, and found shooters in rhythm. When Brown drew extra eyes, Pritchard made the next pass.

Sam Hauser did what he does best: stretch the floor. He drilled five three-pointers on the way to 15 points. Those makes don’t just add to the scoreboard; they change spacing, open lanes, and tilt defenders a step too far from the paint. That half-step is often the difference in fourth quarters on the road.

Supporting reports also credited Anfernee Simons with 15 points for Boston on the night, underscoring how many contributors made shots to keep the Kings at arm’s length when the Celtics needed it.

“Hauser’s gravity mattered as much as the points; five threes broke Sacramento’s shape.“

How Boston closed it out in the fourth quarter

The Celtics didn’t sprint away early; they worked their lead into the fourth. That’s when the small things stacked up. Second and third efforts on the glass, simple drives that forced rotations, and kick-out threes that punished late contests.

Even with Brown fouling out late, Boston had already built a double-digit cushion. That speaks to game control. The Celtics managed tempo, valued possessions, and trusted their spacing. In the final minutes, it looked like a veteran team comfortable on the road — calm, connected, and confident.

“That’s a grown-up road win: defend, rebound, make the easy play, and walk off by double digits.“

Kings’ struggles continue despite DeMar DeRozan’s 25

The Kings had bright spots. DeMar DeRozan scored 25 with his steady mid-range game. Dennis Schroder added 18, and Keon Ellis chipped in 16. But the bigger picture is tough: Sacramento dropped four of its last five and nine of 11 to fall to 8-26.

That record tells a story of small margins. The Kings had moments where the crowd lifted them. They just couldn’t sustain stops or slow Boston’s shooters long enough in the final stretch. When the Celtics leaned on their layers, Sacramento didn’t have enough answers.

Why Brown’s night matters for Boston’s road trip

Road trips are about stacking habits more than highlights. This win moved Boston to 3-1 on a five-game swing. It carried the shape coaches want to see: your star sets the tone, your guards take care of the ball, and your shooters punish mistakes. Brown has now scored 20-plus in 12 of his last 15 games, and that consistency is the heartbeat of a contender.

It also matters that he found a way on an uneven shooting night from deep. One-of-nine from three is usually a warning sign. Instead, Brown turned it into free throws, rim pressure, and rebounding. That’s how All-Stars, and teams with title plans, win in January.

Box score notes: Celtics vs. Kings

• Final score: Celtics 120, Kings 106 (in Sacramento, Calif.).
• Jaylen Brown: 29 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 11-of-25 FG, 1-of-9 3PT, 6 FTs; fouled out late in the fourth.
• Payton Pritchard: 16 points, 6 assists.
• Sam Hauser: 15 points with five made three-pointers.
• Supporting reports credited Anfernee Simons with 15 points for Boston.
• DeMar DeRozan (SAC): 25 points; Dennis Schroder: 18 points; Keon Ellis: 16 points.

Big-picture take

For Boston, this was professional and clean. They trusted their depth, leaned on Brown’s force, and managed late-game moments on the road. For the Kings, the losing slide is the headline. There’s talent on the floor, but the finishing stretches are costing them. Until those get fixed, nights like this will end the same way.

The Celtics, meanwhile, head to the final stop of the trip with rhythm and a working formula. Keep the ball moving. Trust the spacing. Let Brown set the tone. That’s how you bank wins when the schedule is heavy and the legs are not fresh. On Thursday night, it was enough — and then some.