Celtics hit new lows in loss to Kings

Another night, another blowout loss for the Celtics, who can't even claim they were destroyed by a good team after this one.

The Sacramento Kings laid waste to Celts on Sunday night, getting a triple-double from troubled center DeMarcus Cousins and a career game from point guard Isaiah Thomas in a 118-96 win. The Celtics, who gave up 56 points in the paint, lost all three games on this Western road trip by an average of 24 points and didn't hold a lead after any of the 12 quarters they played in California.

According to the CSNNE broadcast, this is the first time in 35 years that the Celtics have lost 3 straight by 18 points or more.

The C's wasted a good game from Kevin Garnett (16 points, 12 rebounds, six assists) and a Jeff Green sighting in allowing the Kings to shoot 53.7 percent of their shots, including 10-of-20 from three-point range. Boston, which had a gimpy Rajon Rondo back after he missed Saturday's game against Golden State with a hip injury, held a brief first half lead but trailed by five at the half and never could even tie things up in the second half despite getting to within two a couple of times in the third quarter.

The Celtics didn't do anything particularly well in this one. They consistently settled for jumpers and low percentgae shots off very little ball movement, missed multiple layups when they did bother to go to the basket, didn't rebound and looked disinterested on defense, both in transition and in the half court.

The Kings had six players in double figures, three with 20-plus. Sacramento has now won seven of eight at home while the Celtics dropped to 5-11 on the road and 14-16 overall.