{"id":23036,"date":"2025-01-04T09:38:44","date_gmt":"2025-01-04T09:38:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=23036"},"modified":"2025-01-04T09:38:44","modified_gmt":"2025-01-04T09:38:44","slug":"win-again-hot-shooting-and-stifling-defense-leads-celtics-to-109-86-victory-over-rockets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=23036","title":{"rendered":"WIN AGAIN!!! Hot shooting and stifling defense leads Celtics to 109-86 victory over Rockets"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Hot<\/p>\n

The Celtics complete their back-to-back in style, beating the Rockets handily with a mix of great defense, rebounding and hot shooting.<\/p>\n

Coming off a nationally televised clutch win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Boston Celtics had to handle a quick turnaround in preparation for the Houston Rockets (22-12), who hold the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n

The Celtics (26-9) didn\u2019t need clutch minutes, controlling the glass, locking down the paint defensively, and shooting a fiery 49% from 3-point land in a 109-86 win on the second night of a back-to-back.<\/p>\n

The Celtics entered the contest without Jaylen Brown for a second straight night due to a right shoulder strain as well as Al Horford, who played 34 minutes against Minnesota. The Rockets were without Amen Thompson (suspension), Tari Eason (leg) and Jabari Smith Jr. (fractured hand).<\/p>\n

Derrick White (23 points), Jayson Tatum (20 points) and Payton Pritchard (20 points) led the charge in scoring, while Tatum also dished out five assists and six rebounds. White had six 3-point makes on 12 attempts. Jrue Holiday (14 points) and Kristaps Porzingis (11 points) also finished in double figures on a night where the team shot 51% from the field. Jalen Green led the Rockets in scoring with 27 points.<\/p>\n

Holiday starred in an overall balanced first quarter for the Celtics, scoring the opening basket, stealing a backcourt pass to lob an alley-oop to Kristaps Porzingis, and driving into a banked hook shot in the first two and a half minutes. He finished with 12 points in the first quarter alone, while Tatum buried a triple and laid off two bounce pass assists on Luke Kornet dunks, while Derrick White nailed two quick threes for 6 points. Off the bench, Payton Pritchard hit four of his five attempts, two from distance, for 10 points.<\/p>\n

The Rockets hit six of their first eight shots, with Alperen Sengun hitting his first three attempts, but a 10-0 Celtics run helped them control the game midway through the period and take a 37-31 lead into the second quarter. Boston shot 7-of-12 (58%) from 3-point land in the quarter.<\/p>\n

Houston scored the first 4 points of the second quarter, but Boston was quick to respond with a 10-2 run that featured 3-pointers from White and Porzingis, a sweet fast break reverse layup from Pritchard and a big dunk from Neemias Queta off a White assist.<\/p>\n

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REVERSE REVERSE \ud83d\udd04\ud83d\ude35\u200d\ud83d\udcab pic.twitter.com\/r4EK1OOGjQ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n