Jabari Smith Jr. scored 23 factors on 9-of-11 taking pictures and grabbed 12 rebounds, Kevin Porter Jr. scored 14 factors and dished out 13 assists, KJ Martin added 20, and the Houston Rockets surprised the Boston Celtics, successful 111-109. Jalen Inexperienced solely shot 8-of-29, however he hit a clutch jumper and equally clutch free throws with 10 seconds remaining, and the Rockets bought their largest win of the season. They grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and scored 54 factors within the paint.
Jaylen Brown had an excellent sport, scoring 43 factors on 16-of-25 taking pictures. Conversely, Jayson Tatum had a tough sport, solely taking pictures 8-of-22. He had what gave the impression to be an open layup to tie the sport on the finish, however he had a poor angle and couldn’t end. The Rockets escaped with a two-point win after Boston virtually got here again trailing by 11 with 4 minutes to play. They struggled from deep, taking pictures 12-of-42.
Houston improves to 16-52 for the season. They’re not simply the worst group within the league, they could be the worst group of the final 5 years, marred by inner dysfunction and lack of growth from their younger gamers. However tonight was their Tremendous Bowl, they usually got here out with extra effort, extra depth, and stole a win in opposition to a Celtic group that hopes to compete for a championship.
Jalen Inexperienced scored 16 factors within the 1st quarter and the Rockets led 31-29. Houston air-balled three of their first 4 photographs, however Jabari Smith bought the scoring began with a 3 and a putback layup. He’s performed properly over the previous three video games, averaging 21.7 factors and 10.0 rebounds on 52.2 % taking pictures and 47.1 % from three. Malcolm Brogdon hit a 3 on the buzzer and led the Celtics with 10 factors off the bench.
The 2nd quarter opened with Inexperienced hitting a free throw after a Marcus Good technical foul. Good supported Fred VanVleet’s viral rant lambasting the referee Ben Taylor, and naturally, it was Taylor who gave Good the tech. The Celtics struggled in the beginning of the 2nd quarter and the Rockets took a 38-31 lead. Tatum missed 8 of his first 9 photographs, however Derrick White bought an offensive rebound putback then hit a 3 on the 6:47 mark to tie the rating at 38.
Whereas Jaylen Brown was unstoppable, taking pictures 4-of-5 after he entered the sport, the Rockets weren’t backing down, and Jae’Sean Tate led the offensive assault along with his artful downhill play. The sport was tied at 50 with 2:55 left within the half and Houston went on a 9-0 run over the subsequent two minutes. They led 62-55 at half.
Brown led the Celtics with 21 factors on 9-of-13 taking pictures, and he was the one man to place up a notable stat line. Tatum solely shot 3-of-12, because the group shot 8-of-25 from deep and had 7 turnovers. Houston shot 17 free throws and picked up 7 offensive rebounds. They’re not good at a lot, however they do lead the league in offensive rebounding. Smith scored 17 on 6-of-7 taking pictures (5-of-5 from three), KJ Martin had 11, and Tate scored 9.
At the start of the second half, Good was late operating again on protection as he argued a name, then KJ Martin beat him up the ground and completed an athletic dunk. Houston took a 68-58 lead, Joe Mazzulla promptly known as an early timeout, then he bought a mysterious technical foul. The Rockets had been enjoying with extra urgency and physicality, however Jaylen singlehandedly tried to shift the momentum with this loud fastbreak slam:
Tatum responded by scoring eight straight factors, seemingly getting out of his offensive funk. However the Rockets had been grabbing offensive rebounds at will, and the Celtics couldn’t retake the lead. Brogdon entered the sport they usually bought as shut as three, however Houston responded by scoring on their subsequent three possessions. Tatum hit a well timed deep ball with 8.7 seconds remaining, and the Rockets led 85-80 going into the 4th quarter. They solely shot 39 % however grabbed six offensive rebounds.
The Celtics performed properly in the beginning of the 4th and minimize the result in 87-85, however popping out of the timeout, rookie Usman Garuba hit two straight threes, Martin hit one the subsequent possession, and the Rockets took a 98-89 lead with 7:18 remaining. Every time Jaylen tried to place the group on his again, Houston responded by getting a simple bucket within the paint.
Down 107-99 with 2:41 remaining, Brogdon bought a steal and the Celtics may have scored in transition and stayed alive, however Good bought his fourth turnover of the night time. It seemed just like the Celtics had given up, however with 1:44 remaining, Brogdon completed an and-1 layup, reducing the result in 106-104. Then Tate bought known as for a foul on Good whereas preventing for rebounding place — a clutch successful play after his tough night time. The Celtics trailed 106-105 after Good’s free throw. Down 108-105 after a Jalen Inexperienced elbow jumper, Jaylen Brown bought fouled taking pictures a 3 and hit 2-of-3 free throws.
With 52 seconds to play, the Celtics pressured a Martin miss, however he bought his personal offensive rebound, and on the scramble for the unfastened ball, Boston appeared to safe possession, however Tatum — making an attempt to avoid wasting the ball from going out of bounds — threw it to a Rocket. Inexperienced sunk two extra free throws, Brown scored a fast layup on the opposite finish, and the Celtics trailed 110-109 with 8.7 seconds left. After Jabari Smith hit 1-of-2 free throws, Tatum discovered a driving lane however couldn’t convert the contested layup, and the Rockets gained 111-109.
The Celtics fall to 47-22 and look to bounce again this Wednesday, as they journey to Minnesota to play the Timberwolves.
