Visiting California, the Boston Celtics defeated the Sacramento Kings (120-106) in a game marked by balance. It was a special match for Neemias Queta, who faced his former team. Jaylen Brown stood out with 29 points and 10 rebounds, having ended up being excluded due to fouls near the end of the game. Neemias Queta was on the field for 23 minutes and ended the match with a balance of 13 points, five rebounds, three shot blocks and one steal. He also received a technical foul in a more tense moment with Precious Achiuwa. Precious Achiuwa trying starts being physical with Neemias Queta in order to get a better position before a jump ball, and Queta won't have any of it. It ends with a double techniqueCeltics and Kings comments. pic.twitter.com/7A7vbPysyV— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) January 2, 2026 A sign of balance was that the game was tied at 88 points at the start of the fourth quarter, before Derrick White made the 5th change. He had just two points, but in the final period he made 4 of 7 shots from the field and converted all four free throws in the final 12 minutes, for a total of 16 points and seven assists. The decisive moment came with 10:45 remaining, when a triple from Derrick White broke the tie and put the Celtics up (93-90). The Kings still pulled within 104-100 with 6:30 to play, but a three-point play by Brown, followed by another triple by White, underscored the Celtics' escape. The Celtics thus achieved their third victory in four games in the current five-game away series. On the Sacramento Kings side, DeMar DeRozan was the top scorer with 25 points. Dennis Schroder scored 18 points and Keon Ellis added 16.