Final: Rockets 111, Celtics 109 - Celtics try to flip the switch, but can't come all the way back

Game 69: Celtics (-13) at Houston Rockets, 8:00 p.m., Toyota Center, NBCS Boston 

Injuries: 

Boston: OUT- Danilo Gallinari, Robert Williams (hamstring), Payton Pritchard (heel)

Houston: PROBABLE- Alperin Sengun (groin)

Rockets Probable Starters: Jalen Green, Kevin Porter, Jr., Jabari Smith, Jr., KJ Martin, Alperin Sengun

Refs: Ben Taylor (#46), Scott Twardoski (#52), Robert Hussey (#85)

Last time they played: Celtics 126, Rockets 102, December 27 - The Celtics came out pretty blah, playing down to the lowly Rockets. They had spurts of playing good basketball, but they mostly played with their food over the first couple of quarters. They pushed the lead to double digits at the end of the third quarter and then broke it open in the fourth. Jaylen Brown had 39 and Jayson Tatum had 38. Robert Williams was the only other Celtic in double figures before garbage time with 11. 

A little something about this game: The Rockets have lost 3 in a row after a brief 2-game losing streak. That came after an 11 game losing skid. They are not a good team but, according to CleaningTheGlass.com, they are actually the #1 team in the league in offensive rebounding percentage and points after misses. They're also ninth in transition points off misses.

Things I’m looking for:

- Box out!: At their worst, the Celtics will get lazy and just turn and look after an opponent shoots. If they do that against Houston, they will find themselves in an unnecessarily close fight. Houston will miss a lot of shots, so crashing the boards is their best chance at scoring. Box out and make this an early night. 

- Effort: Boxing out is about effort, and so is avoiding playing down to the competition. I said the same thing before the last game and the Celtics messed around and still got to garbage time. I’d like it to get to garbage time a bit sooner this time around. Another full fourth quarter of the bench would be fun. 

- Grant Williams?: The Celtics need someone more switchable than Blake Griffin against the Hawks. Has Joe Mazzulla’s message been heard? Will Williams play and show us a more streamlined game? 

Want to pass the time before the game? Here’s me and Tom Westerholm discussing the Grant Williams situation on the latest Locked On Celtics podcast.

Follow along below or in the comments during the game, chime in, and let’s have fun.