WHO: Celtics (19-18) @ Rockets (11-25)
WHEN: 8:00 P.M. EST
WHERE: Toyota Center
RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub
TV: NBC Sports Boston
STARTING LINEUPS
Celtics
G: Kemba Walker
G: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Tristan Thompson
C: Daniel Theis
G: Victor Oladipo
G: Sterling Brown
SF: Kevin Porter, Jr.
PF: Jae'Sean Tate
C: Justin Paton
LIVE COVERAGE
Fourth Quarter
- The starters are out with 9:00 to go. Jayson Tatum sits with 28 minutes played, Brown with 27, and Walker with 26
- Payton Pritchard is making the most of his minutes, hitting two of his first three 3-pointers, including one from about five feet behind the line
- Tacko Fall is having a rough time against the smaller Rockets. He can't put the ball on the floor or else he's losing it.
Third Quarter
- The Celtics open the quarter getting Kemba Walker a layup, which was his first basket of the game. It triggered 11 straight points from the C's point guard
- Daniel Theis started the third on the bench. Semi Ojeleye replaced him on the floor with the starters
- Tristan Thompson has been a rebounding monster, grabbing 13 boards in 18 minutes
- The Celtics (knock on wood) might actually get some garbage time and a chance to keep everyone's minutes under 30
Second Quarter
- Semi Ojeleye is on fire, hitting all three of his 3-pointers. Boston starts the second quarter on a 7-0 run
- Jaylen Brown is starting to cook. He's up to a game-high 14 points and Boston is now on a 16-2 run in the second quarter (and 34-8 since the Rockets led the game 28-20)
- Robert Williams is a monster out there so far. He's getting tip ins, blocking shots, and moving the ball well
- The Celtics relaxed a bit, closing the quarter giving up an 8-2 Rockets run
- Kemba Walker has not made a field goal, and has just 2 points at the half
First Quarter
- The Celtics defense came out lazy, giving up open 3-pointers (Houston is already 3-6)
- The Celtics have already turned the ball over 3 times in 5 minutes
- Marcus Smart checked in an immediately drew a charge off a Celtics turnover, then hits a 3 on the other end
- Jayson Tatum (12 1st Q points) has bailed out the Celtics with some tough shots late in the clock. He helped trigger a 13-4 run where the Celtics regained the lead
- Robert Williams already has 6 points and 6 rebounds after one quarter
INJURIES
Boston: Romeo Langford (Health and Safety Protocols)
Houston: Dante Exum (calf strain), Eric Gordon (groin strain), Danuel House (knee contusion), Rodions Kurucs (oblique strain), David Nwaba (wrist sprain), John Wall (knee contusion), Christian Wood (ankle sprain), PJ Tucker (not with team)
Preview by: Tim Sheils
What's on tap
The Boston Celtics (19-18) will look to get their groove back after a tough 121-109 loss to Brooklyn on Thursday. With a few days off in between, Boston will be a full-go in terms of health besides Romeo Langford, who is still out due to Health and Safety Protocols.
Houston will have their fair share of absentees, which includes John Wall, Christian Wood, Eric Gordon, Danuel House, Rodions Kurucs, Dante Exum, and PJ Tucker. Houston has been having a tough season since James Harden forced his way out, and new Head Coach Stephen Silas has had his work cut out for him. The Rockets are on an abysmal 15 game losing streak, and with a depleted roster should be an get-right game for the Celtics.
, the Celtics are 10.5 favorites on the road in Houston this evening.
- Celtics @ Rockets spread: Celtics -10.5
- Celtics @ Rockets over-under: 221.5 points
- Celtics @ Rockets money line: Rockets +500, Celtics -650
What's on Tap
With Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker both a full go, I don't expect Boston to struggle much. Even in the loss to Brooklyn, Boston still held their ground for a majority of their game before bottoming out. While Kemba Walker needs to have a bounce-back performance, Houston poses nowhere near the challenges that Brooklyn does, and that's with Houston at full-strength. With all of these accumulated injuries for Houston, Boston should have no issue handling the Rockets on the road.
Prediction
After a tough loss to Brooklyn on Thursday and a few days rest, look for Boston to take care of business with a Rockets team that has struggled without offseason signing Christian Wood in the fold. Wood is slated to return after multiple injuries to his right ankle kept him sidelined for over a month. With John Wall out and their bench missing key shooters, Houston will have a tough time trying to hold off Boston's roster at almost full strength.
Boston 114, Houston 103
