Surging Kings out to cement identity vs. Celtics

The surging Sacramento Kings will attempt to extend their winning streak to six games Friday when they begin a three-game road trip with a matchup against the Boston Celtics.

The Kings are 5-1 under interim head coach Doug Christie and beat the Miami Heat in double overtime Monday for their fifth straight win. Sacramento overcame a 17-point deficit and prevailed without point guard De'Aaron Fox, who has missed the team's last two games with a hip injury.

"These guys continue to fight in a way that I hope makes our city proud," Christie said. "Makes me incredibly proud.

"They're willing to do whatever I'm asking them to do, and I've got their back on the other side."

Boston will be back at home after a 3-1 road trip that concluded with a 118-106 victory over Denver on Tuesday. It's been an injury-plagued season for Kristaps Porzingis, but he scored 25 points and had 11 rebounds in his 14th game.

Porzingis said it was the most comfortable he's felt in a game this season.

"I felt good," he said. "Obviously I have to play my way back into good shape. I know this is what everybody expects from me. This is what I showed last season, and now I'm just working my way back up.

"And honestly, (Tuesday) was, in my opinion, one of the first games that I felt like I'm getting close to feeling healthy, feeling good, and getting back into good shape."

It was the first time Porzingis finished with double-digit rebounds this season.

"When KP is playing well we're pretty tough to beat," Boston's Jrue Holiday said.

Boston entered Thursday's slate of NBA games averaging 118.5 points per game, which was fourth best in the NBA. The Celtics allow an average of 108.3 points (fifth best), while the Kings are scoring 116.0 and giving up 113.8.

The Celtics are 13-6 at home. Sacramento has an 8-7 road record.

"They're the champs," Christie said of the Celtics. "It doesn't get any better when you watch them execute, how they go about their business. It's going to be sleepless nights trying to figure out something for them.

"Right now, we are in the testing phase of our identity, and trying to establish an identity in this league is difficult because the league is so great, but at the same time there is no better place to walk into than (Boston) to figure it out. Whatever happens, happens. That's not the point. ... What do we learn from our experience when we go there, having the ability to take those experiences, learn from them and apply them going forward?"

Sacramento had a 13-18 record when it fired head coach Mike Brown on Dec. 27. One reason for the team's resurgence has been the play of guard Keon Ellis, who is averaging 7.1 points per game but has been getting more playing time under Christie. Ellis is averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.0 steals in his last four games.

"Keon is a special player," Christie said. "He has a lot of the things you don't teach."

--Field Level Media