Rockets Snap Celtics Win Streak Behind Sengun and Gritty Defense

The Houston Rockets beat the Boston Celtics 109-93 at Toyota Center on Monday night, and Alperen Şengün was the best player on the floor. Houston improved to 7-1 two nights after cruising past Oklahoma City, stayed perfect at home and snapped Boston's five-game winning streak.

Şengün finished with 26 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks on 12-of-15 shooting- an 80-percent clip from a center who also ran a big chunk of the offense, and his plus-21 led everyone.

He didn't have much help at his position, either. With Clint Capela and Steven Adams both out, Oscar Tshiebwe was the only other center available, and he played about seven minutes.

Boston only had an answer in the first quarter. Houston built a 25-15 lead behind two Tari Eason threes, but the Celtics closed the quarter on a 14-4 run, with Luka Garza hitting two threes late and Jayson Tatum tying it at 29 at the line with one second left.

That was as close as Boston got. Houston won the second quarter 28-21 to take a 57-50 lead into halftime. Boston made its push early in the third. Neemias Queta scored seven quick points, and Mitchell Robinson's alley-oop cut Houston's lead to 63-62 with around nine minutes left in the quarter. 

The Rockets answered with a Fred VanVleet pullup, two running threes from Jabari Smith Jr. and a pair of Şengün finishes at the rim, and they took an 82-73 lead into the fourth.

Then Houston put it away. Marcus Smart hit a three and then another, Reed Sheppard followed with a three and a running layup in his return from a low back strain, and Şengün capped a 10-0 run with a hook shot that gave Houston its biggest lead at 97-79 with around seven minutes left.

The defense deserves just as much credit. Tatum came in averaging 28.3 points per game and finished with 19 on 5-of-16 shooting, going 1-of-7 from three with five turnovers. Boston shot 38.6-percent from the field and made just 12 of its 42 threes.

The Rockets shot 54.4-percent from the field, assisted on 34 of their 43 made baskets and won points in the paint 50-34. Smith added 14 points and 10 rebounds on 4-of-5 from three, Amen Thompson scored 14, Eason had 13 and Kevin Durant scored 12 on just six shots. VanVleet also handed out nine assists in his return.

Boston was on the second night of a back-to-back without Paul George. Houston still beat a 5-1 team by 16 without two of its centers and never trailed. Since the NBA Cup loss to Dallas, the Rockets have won twice by a combined 37 points. And that's what a 7-1 team looks like.

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