Brandon Boston Jr. impresses Clippers while stars remain out
Sacramento Kings forward KZ Okpala, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers guard Jason Preston, second from left, falls and forward Moussa Diabate, second from right, defends while guard Matthew Dellavedova watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Robert Covington (23) and guard Brandon Boston Jr. (4) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes, second from right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr., right, defends while forward Domantas Sabonis, left, and center Ivica Zubac watch during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Chimezie Metu, right, celebrates after scoring during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann, right, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann, center, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes, left, and forward Keegan Murray defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, hits Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray in the faces as they go after a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Amir Coffey, center, has his shot blocked by Sacramento Kings forward KZ Okpala, left, as forward Domantas Sabonis defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann, center, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward KZ Okpala, right, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, and Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes go after a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings center Richaun Holmes, left, and Los Angeles Clippers center Moses Brown grapple for a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue complains to a referee about a call during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings guard Matthew Dellavedova, right, drives by Los Angeles Clippers guard Jason Preston during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings guard Davion Mitchell, right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Clippers forward Robert Covington, left, and Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis reach for a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray, right, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers guard Amir Coffey defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES – Brandon Boston Jr. is caught in that indeterminate state where he wants to see the Clippers stars return to the court, but at the same time he doesn’t mind them sitting, either.
With Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Luke Kennard and Norman Powell on the bench Saturday, the second-year guard got another chance to show his skills in something other than a G League game. He scored 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 4 of 6 3’s in 21 minutes of the Clippers’ 123-96 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
“I want those guys back, but I feel that everybody should be ready to step up,” Boston Jr. said. “I want to show that I belong up here (NBA) with the regular team and contribute for the team to win.”
Boston Jr., who played 22 minutes largely garbage time in Wednesday’s loss to Utah, said he went out Saturday feeling “loose out there, just free in my mind, unconscious.
“I played like the kid that I am because I know I put in the work before practice and after practice. And the team trusts me.”
Boston Jr. is averaging 3.8 points and two rebounds in six games this season. He had a breakout game last season against the Boston Celtics.
With George sidelined, the wing hit 9 of 13 shots, including 5 of 8 3-pointers, for 27 points. He also had four steals in 25 minutes.
Coach Tyronn Lue singled out Boston’s play as one of the highlights in a game full of lowlights.
“Brandon Boston, you know, some catch and shoot 3’s and getting to the basket and getting to the free throw line and just the pace he was playing at offensively,” Lue said. “Then taking the challenge defensively as well.
“We’ve been challenging him to be better defensively, and he’s done that. So, we know he can score the basketball but taking that next step of being better defensively, he’s done that.”
Stars go on the road
Lue said that Leonard and George, neither of played Saturday, will travel with the team on its four-game East Coast trip that begins Monday in Charlotte.
Clippers’ Ivica Zubac happy to be considered a throwback center
Lue had said Friday that Leonard’s availability for Saturday’s game would depend on how he felt after doing through practice. While he said the five-time All-Star felt good, he wasn’t ready to play.
“We’ll get him back real soon,” Lue said. “He’s going on the trip, so that’s a positive.”
Lue re-iterated that both players are eager to return to the court.
“I mean they definitely want to play,” he said. “We just have to be smart about it. You hate to see this happen.”
