BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics made up for their lack of scoring with suffocating defense.
Vin Baker collected 18 points and a season-high 13 rebounds and Paul Pierce scored 17 points as the Celtics snapped a three-game losing streak by shutting down the Sacramento Kings, 91-82.
Boston is averaging just under 91 points per game and was held to only 86.3 during its losing streak. But it did not need to outshoot Sacramento, which entered Sunday averaging 106.0 points per contest.
"We decided to get tougher on defense," Pierce said. "Once we started to get hands in their faces and challenge their shots, the game came easy. I think we have the potential to be in the top two or three in the league defensively."
"We were definitely looking for this defensively," Baker said. "To come out and play a team like Sacramento, that is a high-scoring basketball team, we're looking for this kind of effort."
The Kings were limited to their lowest total since February 25 after shooting just 36 percent (32-of-90) from the floor. They missed 10 of their first 11 shots in the fourth quarter as the Celtics took control.
"I don't want to take anything away from them, I think they really picked up their defensive intensity, but we were bad offensively," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "I always think it's a combination of what they do and what you do."
"You have nights like that and tonight was one of those nights," Sacramento point guard Mike Bibby said. "We were missing shots that we usually make. You play 82 games and that's going to happen. Not everybody is going to play perfect every night."
Boston had a 73-69 lead after three quarters and scored 10 of the first 13 points in the fourth. Eric Williams sparked the burst with a jumper and Raef LaFrentz followed with a tip shot.
After Doug Christie buried a 3-pointer - Sacramento's only basket in the opening nine minutes of the fourth - Kedrick Brown had a layup for Boston. Mark Blount made a runner before Pierce buried an 18-footer for an 83-72 cushion with 5:35 left.
Boston snapped a six-game losing streak against Sacramento - including a three-game slide at home - defeating the Kings for the first time since July 7, 2000.
The Celtics dominated inside behind Baker, who posted his first double-double of the season. They outscored the Kings, 50-24, in the paint and had a 52-42 rebounding advantage.
"I definitely have to concentrate on getting to the boards," Baker said. "We've had some games where we've been outrebounded and it's hurt us. I have to make a concerted effort to get to the glass more and hopefully tonight will start me off in the right direction."
Brad Miller had 19 points and tied a career high with 16 rebounds and Bibby added 14 points and 11 assists for Sacramento, which has lost three of four after opening the season with consecutive wins.
Peja Stojakovic scored 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting and combined with Bibby, Doug Christie and Bobby Jackson to make just 15-of-51 shots from the floor.
The Kings scored the first 10 points of the game, highlighted by six from Miller, and had a 15-2 cushion after Bibby drained a 3-pointer with 9:18 left in the first quarter.
Sacramento had a 23-11 cushion after a layup by Miller with 3:40 to go but made just one basket thereafter. Boston ended the first quarter on a 15-2 run and took its first lead at 26-25 on a 3-pointer by Mike James with 3.4 seconds left.
