Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr. lack supporting help as Celtics blast Rockets
Houston’s young backcourt of Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. combined for 50 points on solid efficiency, but they couldn’t keep pace with Boston’s All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as the Celtics pulled away late to defeat the Rockets, 126-102 (box score).
With Tuesday’s win, Eastern Conference-leading Boston (25-10) further improved its NBA-best record on the 2022-23 season, while Houston (10-24) remains in last place in the Western Conference. It was the second night for the Rockets’ difficult road back-toback. They had won in Chicago less than 24hours earlier.
Each team’s top two scorers delivered in a big way on Tuesday night. These were key statistics:
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Brown39 points on 14-of-25 shooting (53.8% FG), 6-of-15 3-pointers (40.0%) and 3 steals within 35 minutes
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Tatum38 points from 12-of-25 shooting (48.0%), and 6-of-16 shooting 3-pointers (63.7%) in just 34 minutes.
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Green: 28 points from 11-of-22 shooting (50.0%), and 3-of-11 shooting 3-pointers (27.3%); 4 rebound, 4 turnovers in 33 min
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Porter22 points on 8 of 18 shooting (44.4%) and 2-of-6 (33.3%); 9 assists, 5 rebound, 0 turnovers within 35 minutes
Boston got stronger as the game went along, perhaps due to fatigue issues on Houston’s end from the road back-to-back. The Rockets were outscored by 70 to 53 points in the second half.
Ultimately, for Houston to defeat the NBA’s best team on the road, they needed either an off night by one or both of Boston’s stars or plenty of help from their own supporting cast. Both failed.
Green and Porter were not supported by Alperen Sengun, a second-year center, and Jabari Smith Jr., the All-Star forward.
One night after scoring 25 points on better than 80% shooting in Chicago, Sengun went 0-for-3 and didn’t score a single point in Boston. Smith only scored 6 points Tuesday, shooting just 2-of-10 (20.0%), and 2-of-7 (3.6%) on Tuesday. Smith has shot close to 20% on 3-pointers in his last seven games. Sengun, Smith and Smith both grabbed nine rebounds each, tied for most Rockets.
TyTy Washington, a rookie guard, was a shining spot off the bench. He scored 10 points and had 3 assists. TyTy also made 2-of-5 3-pointers (40.0%).
Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interview reaction from Boston’s TD Garden. Houston’s three-game road trip concludes Thursday in Dallas, with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. Central.
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