Preview: Kings Face Uphill Battle at TD Garden Against Celtics BOSTON (Interstat) — The struggling Sacramento Kings face a daunting task Friday night when they visit the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. The Kings (12-37) enter on a three-game losing skid and have dropped 10 of their last 12 contests. Their most recent outing was a narrow 113-111 road loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Veteran guard DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento in that defeat with 25 points and eight assists, continuing a stretch of high-volume scoring. Over his last 10 games, DeRozan is averaging 22.8 points and 4.8 assists. Conversely, the Celtics (29-18) look to rebound after a 117-106 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. All-Star Jaylen Brown, a focal point for Boston, posted 21 points and seven rebounds in that game. Brown has been on a tear, averaging 27.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists over his last 10 appearances, including a triple-double of 27 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in a win over Brooklyn on Jan. 23. The teams met earlier this month, with Boston securing a 120-106 victory in Sacramento on Jan. 1. The statistical outlook heavily favors the Celtics. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Boston is projected with a 91.40% probability to win. Oddsmakers have installed the Celtics as 9.5-point favorites, with an over/under set at 222.5 points. For Sacramento, the matchup opens a challenging two-game road trip before returning home. Boston begins a pivotal stretch against Eastern Conference contenders, hosting the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. Friday’s game tips off at 7:30 p.m. EST.