The Celtics got back in the win column, beating the Kings 113-95 on Monday in Sacramento. They won their sixth straight game to get to 53-19 while the Kings dropped to 35-36.

But Celtics fans who missed the late-night game will keep a close eye on Jayson Tatum’s injury status going forward. The C’s star had to leave midway through the third quarter due to a left ankle injury. He didn’t return to the game as he was in clear pain immediately after turning that ankle.

Boston was at relatively solid health heading into the game as it returned Jaylen Brown to the lineup for the first time in more than a week. So the C’s started with Tatum, Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis, though they missed a pair of rotation players.

The Celtics got off to a slow start as the Kings built a nine-point lead. But they locked in starting in the second quarter. The C’s cruised in control in the second half, creating their own 22-point lead, as they didn’t let the Kings to mount a comeback.

Tatum finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and eight assists even though he had an early exit. Payton Pritchard finished with 22 points while Kristaps Porzingis also continues to make an impact as he had 16 points and eight rebounds. Domantas Sabonis had 16 points and 17 rebounds while DeMar DeRozan posted 20 points and 10 assists.

The Celtics continue their six-game road trip by taking on the Suns at 10 p.m. Wednesday in Phoenix coming up next. Here are four takeaways from Boston’s win over Sacramento:

Injury status: The image of Tatum writhing on the ground grabbing at his left ankle was an immediate scary sight for Celtics fans. Tatum rose and hit the 3-pointer, but Sabonis entered his landing space on the contest. The foul was quickly upgraded to a flagrant foul as the league outlawed dangerous closeouts for a reason. Tatum walked gingerly and slowly after getting up off the court to head to the C’s bench. But after he shot his free throws, he immediately went to the locker room to get evaluated. Considering the playoffs are just a month away, the Celtics will be cautious with their All-Star and his ankle going forward.

Starter minutes: The Celtics got to open Monday’s game with their preferred starting lineup, though that’s been a mixed bag throughout the season. Boston got off to another slow start, though it dug out of the deficit quickly. Still, it’s been tough for the C’s to get continuity with their starting group. Considering Tatum just hurt his ankle, there are only so many games to continue building that chemistry. But on the flip side, making sure they’re fully healthy is the priority with the playoffs so close.

Rookie continues to shine: The Celtics were without Al Horford and Sam Hauser, so there were again rotation minutes available. Baylor Scheierman continues to produce when his number is called and that was again the case Monday. He had a nifty pass to Pritchard after a steal in the first half where he made the behind-the-back assist. Scheierman’s activity level is also noticeable whenever he’s on the court, looking like a different player compared to the beginning of the season. Those are all positive developments for the Celtics as he finished Monday with nine points and seven rebounds.

Midway through trip: The Celtics still have three more games left away from home, but they just keep picking up road victories. After Monday’s win, they’re now 29-7 on the road compared to 24-12 at home. That road win percentage, for now, is the best in franchise history. So while there have been some struggles at TD Garden, the Celtics look comfortable playing in front of road crowds. Though it also helps that C’s fans take over some road arenas.

• BETTING: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.

Private equity investor Bill Chisholm is still working hard while leading a group that agreed to purchase the Boston Celtics last week for a record $6.1 billion evaluation. Chisholm, a life-long Celtics fan and Massachusetts native already has several partners in the deal including current Celtics minority co-owner Robert Hale, Bruce A. Beal Jr, and Sixth Street, a global investment firm, among others. It’s unclear what the specific stakes those individuals will have in the eventual Celtics purchase but Axios has reported that Sixth Street’s investment could be as much as a billion dollars.

Despite those hefty investments, a report from Forbes indicates that Chisholm was still on the hunt for more investors in the deal as recently as last week. A billionaire told Forbes in the story that they were offered an opportunity to buy a stake in the team as recently as last Thursday, the same day the purchase was announced.

Axios reported last week that Chisholm’s offer wasn’t fully financed yet but he still has plenty of time to find more partners. The bid isn’t expected to be voted on by the NBA Board of Governors until June per a source so he will have multiple months to find additional investors.

Ultimately, Chisholm’s group will take a controlling stake in the franchise once the deal is closed this summer, pending approval by the league. Chisholm agreed to let current CEO, team governor and co-owner Wyc Grousbeck remain in his current role until the final close of the sale in 2028.

“My partners and I have immense respect for Wyc, the entire Grousbeck family and their indelible contributions to the Celtics organization over the last 23 years,” Chisholm said in a release last week announcing the sale. “We look forward to learning from Wyc and partnering with Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla and the talented team and staff to build upon their success as we work to bring more championships home to Boston.”

Chisholm has indicated he plans to attend the Celtics’ April 2nd matchup against the Miami Heat at TD Garden, the team’s first home game since the sale agreement was announced.

• BETTING: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.

Protests at Tesla dealerships across the U.S. continued over the weekend drawing hundreds of demonstrators calling for billionaire Elon Musk’s ouster from the federal government. In Boston, some 200 protesters held a peaceful demonstration Saturday outside the Tesla showroom at the Prudential Center on Boylston Street.

Share