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The challenge of repeating as champions

BOSTON — After a strong showing out west, the Celtics had a chance to get right at home. Two letdowns later, there might be more questions than answers for the defending champs.

The Kings extended their lead in the fourth quarter of a blowout on Friday before the Pelicans’ squandered theirs when CJ McCollum narrowly missed a chance to win it at the buzzer. Jayson Tatum and the Celtics escaped on Sunday after he missed two game-sealing free throws.

“It’s just a funky stretch, I guess,” Tatum said. “Shoutout to the Pelicans. They played really well tonight.