Sacramento @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 17, 2019 ) Boston 99, Sacramento 100

The Boston Celtics limped home from a difficult five-game road trip with an injured leader and their first losing streak of the season. They'll likely be without star point guard Kemba Walker when they host the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.

Walker suffered a sprained neck in a scary moment in the second quarter of Friday's 96-92 loss at Denver, which capped a 2-3 trip, and is considered doubtful for the opener of the two-game homestand. "It's kind of a minor miracle based on what we saw the other day," coach Brad Stevens told reporters of Walker having an outside chance of playing Monday. "But the strain is real, and he's got some soreness in his back and neck. That's it." The Kings handed the Celtics one of those three defeats on the trip with a 100-99 win last Sunday. Sacramento opened a four-game road trip with a lopsided loss at Brooklyn before winning at Washington 113-106 on Sunday.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), NBCS Boston

ABOUT THE KINGS (7-8): Harrison Barnes led the way in the win over the Wizards with a 26-point effort in which he shot 7-for-8 while making all three of his 3-point tries. Richaun Holmes, whose late free throws helped seal the recent win over the Celtics, chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double this month while recording a season-high four blocked shots as Sacramento improved to 7-3 following an 0-5 start. Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 21 points after missing the previous game with a hamstring injury, but coach Luke Walton told reporters that Bogdanovic will need to be evaluated again in Boston.

ABOUT THE CELTICS (11-4): If Walker cannot go it would mean another likely start for Marcus Smart and increased minutes for backup Brad Wanamaker, who had 14 points and four assists Friday. More of the scoring load falls to Jayson Tatum (20.5 points per game) and Jaylen Brown (18.8), who shot 36.1 percent over his last four games. Smart should be happy about a return home, where he is averaging 14.2 points while shooting 45.6 percent, compared to 11.3 and 34.2 percent on the road.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kings PF Nemanja Bjelica had 12 rebounds and a season-high three steals in Sunday's win.

2. Tatum missed all five of his 3-point attempts and recorded a season-low two rebounds in the loss to Denver.

3. Boston has won 11 straight meetings at home.

PREDICTION: Celtics 109, Kings 102