Following a thrilling win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on national television, the Boston Celtics had to quickly prepare for the Houston Rockets (22-12), who are currently holding the third seed in the Western Conference.
In a back-to-back game, the Celtics (26-9) dominated without needing clutch performances, controlling the boards, playing strong defense in the paint, and shooting an impressive 49% from beyond the arc to secure a 109-86 victory.
Missing Jaylen Brown and Al Horford, the Celtics faced a challenge, while the Rockets were without Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, and Jabari Smith Jr. Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, and Payton Pritchard led the Celtics in scoring, with Tatum also contributing five assists and six rebounds. Jalen Green led the Rockets with 27 points.
The first quarter saw a balanced effort from the Celtics, with Holiday making significant contributions. The Celtics took a 37-31 lead into the second quarter with impressive shooting from beyond the arc.
The Celtics maintained their lead in the second quarter, responding to Houston’s early points with a strong run of their own. Tatum’s performance in the final seconds extended Boston’s lead to 65-56 going into halftime.
Jayson Tatum had 5 points with one minute left in the first half
He finished the half with 13 points and this big dunk to give the Celtics a 65-56 lead pic.twitter.com/bK6wrdxlwB
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) January 4, 2025
The Celtics maintained their lead in the third quarter, with White making key plays on both ends of the court. Despite a powerful dunk from Jalen Green, Boston held a 74-65 lead.
Boston controlled the third quarter, limiting Houston’s scoring and taking an 82-72 lead into the final quarter. Tatum showcased his skills with a memorable 3-pointer.
Houston struggled to score in the fourth quarter, allowing the Celtics to extend their lead with strong shooting.
With the Rockets unable to recover, the Celtics secured a comfortable victory and were able to rest their starters towards the end of the game.
Boston looks ahead to their upcoming game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday as they continue their road trip.
