Houston’s young backcourt of Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. combined for 50 points on solid efficiency, but they couldn’t keep pace with Boston’s All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The duo shined as the Celtics pulled away late to defeat the Rockets, 126-102 (box score).
With Tuesday’s win, Eastern Conference-leading Boston (25-10) further improved its NBA-best record, while Houston (10-24) remains in last place in the Western Conference. It was the second night of a road back-to-back for the Rockets, who had an impressive win less than 24 hours earlier in Chicago.
Each team’s top two scorers delivered in a big way on Tuesday night. Key statistics for that quartet included:
- Brown: 39 points on 14-of-26 shooting (53.8% FG) and 6-of-15 on 3-pointers (40%); 3 steals in 35 minutes
- Tatum: 38 points on 12-of-25 shooting (48%) and 6-of-16 on 3-pointers (37.5%); 8 rebounds, 4 assists in 34 minutes
- Green: 28 points on 11-of-22 shooting (50%) and 3-of-11 on 3-pointers (27.3%); 4 rebounds, 4 turnovers in 33 minutes
- Porter: 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting (44.4%) and 2-of-6 on 3-pointers (33.3%); 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 0 turnovers in 35 minutes
Boston got stronger as the game went along, perhaps due to fatigue issues on Houston’s end from the road back-to-back. In the second half, the Celtics outscored the Rockets by a 70-53 margins.
Ultimately, for Houston to defeat the NBA’s best team on the road, they needed either an off night by one or both of Boston’s stars or plenty of help from their own supporting cast. Neither happened.
Besides the All-Star duo carrying Boston, Green and Porter had little support from two of their most important young teammates, rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. and second-year center Alperen Sengun.
One night after scoring 25 points on better than 80% shooting in Chicago, Sengun went 0-for-3 and didn’t score a single point in Boston. Smith scored just 6 points on Tuesday on 2-of-10 shooting (20.0%), including 2-of-7 on 3-pointers (28.6%). Over his last seven games, Smith is shooting near 20% on 3-pointers. Sengun and Smith did grab 9 rebounds apiece, each tied for most on the Rockets.
Rookie guard TyTy Washington was a bright spot off the bench with 10 points and 3 assists, making 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%).
Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interview reaction from Boston’s TD Garden. Houston’s three-game road trip concludes Thursday in Dallas, with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. Central.
Highlights
Analysis and Interviews
Celtics 126, Rockets 102. Rockets hit a bit of a wall in the fourth quarter, but were hit by a whole lot of Tatum and Brown, who combined to 77. Green and Porter combine for 50, but Sengun went 0 for 3.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 28, 2022
Kevin Porter Jr has an 11-2 assist/turnover rate over the last three games
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 28, 2022
Coming off a back to back I’m not mad at the effort from the Rockets, they just got beat by the better and more experienced team.
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) December 28, 2022
Yeah Ty Ty should be the backup going forward I think this position battle is done. Career high 10 points with 5 rebounds and 3 assists pic.twitter.com/LTvWwEMOeI
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) December 28, 2022
The #Rockets didn't do nearly the same job of getting Sengun the ball down low — especially on mismatches — that they did against the Bulls. https://t.co/8bL7i2gPSB
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) December 28, 2022
JALEN GREEN AT THE BUZZER ‼️
18 points on 7/9 FG in the third 🔥
JOIN: https://t.co/7TuHKQVDhS pic.twitter.com/9vAbVahKEo
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) December 28, 2022
TyTy Washington making a strong case for a continued spot in this #Rockets rotation — 10/5/3/1 tonight despite the blowout loss.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) December 28, 2022
Rockets & Celtics staff are wearing pins in honor of Coach Stephen Silas’ late father, Paul Silas.
“He was just such a good, good man. We always thought he was a great man, and for everybody to see it the same way we see it is really, really just a great thing.” – Coach Silas pic.twitter.com/STZZgcMAMp
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 28, 2022
An emotional night for @teroyaeason … here’s how she ended up courtside! @ATTSportsNetSW
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) December 28, 2022
#Rockets head coach Stephen Silas talks the tribute video the Celtics showed at tonight's game to honor his father Paul who played 4 seasons in Boston and won 2 championships@HoustonRockets ❤️@celtics 💚 pic.twitter.com/uceFUChtD6
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 28, 2022
Rockets-Celtics Thoughts:
1. KPJ was excellent on O. Decision making & ball control over the last two has been very good
2. Efficient 25+ point games from Jalen are always great
3. TyTy is in the rotation. No further questions
4. Silas is so inconsistent with Sengun. Kills me
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) December 28, 2022
#Rockets fall to the Celtics 126-102 … Next up at Dallas on Thursday
Here was KJ Martin after the game@HoustonRockets on AT&T SportsNet pic.twitter.com/mqkfZejf5d
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 28, 2022
