A disastrous fourth quarter nearly burned the Celtics once again on Friday night.
That was, until Boston reserve player Xavier Tillman saved the victory over the Sacramento Kings.
The Celtics led by 19 points with under six minutes to play, before the Kings exploded offensively and took the lead late. With one possession to seal the deal, Tillman drove to the top of the paint and dripped in a jumper from the charity stripe to regain the lead. That bucket held up and Boston survived the late Sacramento onslaught.
Boston was shorthanded on Friday, missing both Jaylen Brown and Derrick White from the starting lineup, and had nothing to play for, having already clinched the NBA’s best record.