Celtics Lose at Home to Kevin Durant and Rockets
The Houston Rockets defeated the Boston Celtics 128-101 on Saturday night, snapping Boston's three-game winning streak. Kevin Durant led Houston with 26 points in just three quarters before resting in the fourth.
Key Performances for the Rockets
- Kevin Durant: 26 points, 8 of 11 shooting, 8 of 9 from the foul line
- Amen Thompson: 17 points and 9 rebounds
- Alperen Sengun: 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists
- Josh Okogie: 12 points
Boston Celtics’ Effort
- Baylor Scheierman: team-high 17 points
- Payton Pritchard: 14 points
- Josh Minott: 10 points and 6 rebounds
- Jaylen Brown: 12 points, rested in the fourth quarter
Jaylen Brown sat out the final quarter after scoring 32 points the previous night in a narrow win against Philadelphia. However, the Celtics struggled to find rhythm against the Rockets.
Game Overview
The Rockets dominated the first half, shooting 57% and leading 66-48 at halftime. They outrebounded Boston 53-36.
“Durant was 8 for 9 from the foul line, hitting three straight on a string of technical fouls early in the third quarter as Boston’s frustrations boiled over.”
The Celtics were unable to match Durant’s scoring or the Rockets’ overall intensity throughout the game.
Summary: The Rockets’ balanced attack and efficiency overwhelmed a Celtics team that couldn’t keep pace, ending Boston’s winning streak convincingly.