Coming off a nationally televised clutch win in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Boston Celtics needed to deal with a fast turnaround in preparation for the Houston Rockets (22-12), who maintain the No. 3 seed within the Western Convention.
The Celtics (26-9) didn’t want clutch minutes, controlling the glass, locking down the paint defensively, and taking pictures a fiery 49% from 3-point land in a 109-86 win on the second evening of a back-to-back.
The Celtics entered the competition with out Jaylen Brown for a second straight evening because of a proper shoulder pressure in addition to Al Horford, who performed 34 minutes in opposition to Minnesota. The Rockets have been with out Amen Thompson (suspension), Tari Eason (leg) and Jabari Smith Jr. (fractured hand).
Derrick White (23 factors), Jayson Tatum (20 factors) and Payton Pritchard (20 factors) led the cost in scoring, whereas Tatum additionally dished out 5 assists and 6 rebounds. White had six 3-point makes on 12 makes an attempt. Jrue Vacation (14 factors) and Kristaps Porzingis (11 factors) additionally completed in double figures on an evening the place the workforce shot 51% from the sector. Jalen Inexperienced led the Rockets in scoring with 27 factors.
Vacation starred in an total balanced first quarter for the Celtics, scoring the opening basket, stealing a backcourt cross to lob an alley-oop to Kristaps Porzingis, and driving right into a banked hook shot within the first two and a half minutes. He completed with 12 factors within the first quarter alone, whereas Tatum buried a triple and laid off two bounce cross assists on Luke Kornet dunks, whereas Derrick White nailed two fast threes for six factors. Off the bench, Payton Pritchard hit 4 of his 5 makes an attempt, two from distance, for 10 factors.
The Rockets hit six of their first eight pictures, with Alperen Sengun hitting his first three makes an attempt, however a 10-0 Celtics run helped them management the sport halfway by the interval and take a 37-31 lead into the second quarter. Boston shot 7-of-12 (58%) from 3-point land within the quarter.
Houston scored the primary 4 factors of the second quarter, however Boston was fast to reply with a 10-2 run that featured 3-pointers from White and Porzingis, a candy quick break reverse layup from Pritchard and a giant dunk from Neemias Queta off a White help.
The Rockets stored inside putting distance regardless of the new taking pictures of the C’s, with Jalen Inexperienced heating up with 8 fast factors out of a Houston timeout and veteran ahead Jeff Inexperienced flattening a 3 to get inside two of the lead with 3:50 left within the first half, 53-51.
A Tatum takeover within the ultimate 67 seconds helped preserve that benefit into the half, delivering consecutive knockout blows from downtown and splitting the Rockets pick-and-roll protection for a dunk with seven seconds left, giving Boston a 65-56 lead. Boston already had 4 scorers in double figures, taking pictures 53% from the ground and 52% from three.
Jayson Tatum had 5 factors with one minute left within the first half
He completed the half with 13 factors and this large dunk to provide the Celtics a 65-56 lead pic.twitter.com/bK6wrdxlwB
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) January 4, 2025
Within the first 5 minutes of the third quarter, Boston’s maintained its 9-point halftime lead in an eventful sequence that noticed White stand up and block a Dillon Brooks fastbreak layup try, hit a baseline floater and help on one other Kornet alley-oop. Jalen Inexperienced threw down a thunderous poster on Kornet later, however it was nonetheless a 74-65 Celtics lead.
The Rockets scored simply 7 factors within the ultimate seven minutes of the third quarter, going over 5 minutes with out a area aim, although Boston coincidentally had seven turnovers within the third, taking an 82-72 lead into the fourth. Tatum scored 5 factors within the quarter, together with a 3-pointer the place he broke Cam Whitmore’s ankles earlier than nailing the shot.
Houston’s taking pictures woes carried over into the fourth quarter, lacking their first seven pictures whereas White, Pritchard and Porzingis all knocked down threes within the first 3 minutes for a 93-72 lead.
The Rockets by no means recovered from their scoring drought, and with slightly below 5 minutes to play, the Celtics have been capable of sub their bench in and cruise to their third straight victory.
Boston continues its street journey on Sunday with a matchup between heavyweights once they tackle the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder at 3:30 p.m.
