It regarded shut within the first half, however this recreation was a basic Celtics win. Boston improves to 19-0 at residence on the season, and retains the most effective document within the NBA with a blowout, 145-113 win.
First-quarter Jaylen Brown was out in full power, isolating Fred VanVleet at each alternative. He had 9 factors on 3-4 capturing after one, and was additionally lively on the defensive finish (1 steal).
Kristaps Porzingis joined him with 12 first-quarter factors. He and Brown mixed for Boston’s first 18 factors.
The entire Rockets’ starters bought on the board within the first, and so they had been led by breakout heart Alperen Sengun and rookie Cam Whitmore, every with 6 factors within the first.
It was clear from the primary quarter that former Celtics head coach Ime Udoka didn’t intend to go away empty handed. The Rockets performed laborious, and so they’re a scrappy bunch. Plus – no matter what occurred throughout his tenure in Boston – Udoka will get his guys to work laborious.
The Celtics continued their pattern of lacking open appears within the first, however ended up with fairly good percentages towards a very good Houston protection. They shot 55% from the sector and 40% from three to begin.
Jayson Tatum was scoreless till a candy steal and subsequent slam. Then he had a buzzer-beater three to shut the primary at 35-31 Boston.
After that, it was all Tatum. He had 27 factors on 9-16 capturing, with 8 rebounds, 5 assists, a steal and a block within the recreation – and he regarded unstoppable for many of it.
Houston’s Jeff Inexperienced regarded superior within the first half. He’s in his sixteenth season, and is offering some actual bench manufacturing on the 4 and 5 spot for Houston. May he be a commerce deadline goal for Boston? At $8 million, his contract could be tough to accumulate for Brad Stevens. He would match nice because the third huge on this workforce, although.
Inexperienced completed with 9 factors in 14 minutes – not unhealthy for a 37-year-old. Sengun continued to place up numbers, and completed with 19 factors, 10 rebounds, and a couple of assists on what felt like an off evening (he’s actually good). Apart from that, Houston’s gamers had pedestrian field scores exterior of rubbish time.
Derrick White got here alive within the second quarter with a pair of threes – a welcome sight after a few tough video games. On the closing whistle, he had simply 13 factors, however appears to have damaged out of no matter droop had ailed him for the previous few nights. Fingers crossed.
Boston led 69-58 on the break, with 4 starters in double-digit scoring. Jrue Vacation was the exception, with 2 factors on 0-4 capturing. He completed with 11 factors, 6 rebounds, and three assists.
It was Vacation who drew first blood within the second half, starting a 7-0 run.
Brown placed on one other present within the third, together with a stretch the place he adopted a triple with a swat towards Jabari Smith Jr. Dope.
He had 21 third-quarter factors. That’s insane. He completed with 32, with 6 rebounds and a couple of assists.
Each Brown and Tatum had been tied at 25 factors with six minutes left within the third, as Boston prolonged their lead previous 20 factors.
They appeared to be competing extra with one another than with the Rockets, buying and selling very nice buckets backwards and forwards in an exemplary show of Celtics basketball.
For sure, it was trying fairly good for Boston after a 17-4 run on the finish of the third.
I blinked, and Payton Pritchard had 9 factors within the third. He completed with 19. The Celtics led 112-86 heading into the house stretch.
I used to be pondering it was about time for Tatum to sit down, after which he was ejected! After a pair missed calls, Tatum let the refs know. After he was thrown out, the group adopted swimsuit with a “refs you suck!” chant.
Keep elegant, Boston.
The remainder of the starters left the sport quickly, having secured a 30-point lead. It was an expert win, and boy did they want it. The loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday was unhealthy sufficient that this matchup felt actually vital.
The Celtics journey to Toronto tomorrow for a Monday evening matchup towards the Raptors.
