BSJ Live Coverage: Celtics at Rockets 8:30 p.m. - Second night of a back-to-back

BOSTON CELTICS at HOUSTON ROCKETS

Location: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

Game time: 8:30 p.m.

TV: NBC Sports Boston

Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub

Celtics injury report:

• Paul George - OUT (rest)
• Devin Carter - OUT (illness)

Rockets injury report:

• Steven Adams - OUT (right soleus strain)
• Clint Cpela - OUT (right ankle sprain)

• Quadir Copeland - OUT (G League, two-way)

• Julian Phillips - OUT (G League, two-way)

• Reed Sheppard - QUESTIONABLE (low back strain)

Preview: The second of a road back-to-back, the Boston Celtics are heading to Texas on Monday night to take on the Houston Rockets. Fresh off a win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday afternoon, Boston will have to find any energy it can.

Mitchell Robinson missed the Celtics' win over the Magic for rest purposes, and now Paul George will get some rest of his own against the Rockets. The Celtics will be looking to improve to 6-1 on Monday.

Houston has been one of the hottest teams in the league this year. The Rockets are 6-1 on the year and have been getting big-time numbers from Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson.

Last season: In their two matchups with the Rockets last season, the Celtics went 1-1. Almost exactly a year ago (November 2, 2025), the Celtics got blown out at home. But they returned the favor come February.

With Jaylen Brown sidelined, the short-handed Celtics played a double-big starting lineup (that also included Ron Harper Jr.) and obliterated Houston on its own home court.

Quick stats: Sengun (five appearances) has been leading the way for the Rockets this season. Through the first seven games, he is averaging 22.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 53.2% from the field and 54.5% from deep on 2.2 3-point attempts per contest.

Durant has been next up. He's putting up 22.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks on 51.1% shooting from the floor and 40.7% shooting on 3.9 3-pointers a night.

Smith's deep ball has been red-hot this season, too. He's been averaging 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 48.9% from the floor and 44.7% on 6.7 3-point attempts per contest.

As for Thompson, he's giving the Rockets a bit of everything while also playing all-world defense. He's averaging 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 52.3% from the field and 28.6% on 1.0 3-point attempt a night.

Former Celtic Marcus Smart has also been playing heavy minutes for Houston. He signed with the Rockets in free agency this summer. Smart is shooting an absurd 47.4% from 3-point land on 4.8 attempts per game.