The defending NBA champions Boston Celtics slipped to a surprise home loss to a rejuvenated Sacramento Kings.

The Kings have hit form under interim coach Doug Christie since Mike Brown’s sacking, and are thriving with De’Aaron Fox being out.

Their 114-97 win in TD Garden over the Boston Celtics was another statement victory, with Domantas Sabonis putting up a huge night.

Sabonis scored 23 points and had 28 rebounds, the highest number of rebounds in a NBA game this season, eclipsing the 23 rebounds Victor Wembanyama put up against the Nuggets.

Boston Celtics reaction to loss

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was quizzed by reporters following the Celtics home loss, and asked whether there was a lack of effort from his team.

Mazzulla said that effort was not a long term concern he has – but admitted in the short-term it may have been an issue.

He pointed to the inefficient three-point shooting from his team to making everything harder.

Mazzulla said: “When you’re having inefficient offense, it puts pressure on your defense. And so, I don’t think it’s a long-term effort thing. Whether it’s shot making, whether it’s execution, that takes a toll on you.

“If your going to shoot 20 per cent from three you are going to have to a lot of other things really well.”

Sabonis’ big rebound night pointed to a dominance from a player who simply wanted it more. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics for rebounds with 12.

Quizzed further on his team’s effort, he responded: “Definitely a short-term [effort issue] without a doubt.”

Jaylen Brown says Celtics still fighting

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown put up 28 points in the loss, and agreed with some aspects of Mazzulla’s post-game analysis.

But what he was not willing to agree with, was the insinuations of a lack of effort – claiming they are still fighting hard.

He responded: “Shots wasn’t falling, that put pressure on our defense. The league has made some adjustment to us. They put up more threes than us and they made more threes than us.

“We had some turnovers, took some ill advised shots.”

Asked about his team’s efforts, he responded: “We are fighting, we are definitely playing some good basketball, we are figuring it out. I guess that would be your opinion that we are not fighting.

“We got to figure it out this year. It’s a new year, last year’s over with.”

Brown did lean towards one extra reason for the slow performance but admitted it was not a credible one.

He said: “Part of that is first game back from a long road trip but that’s really no excuse.”