Short-Handed Rockets No Match for Celtics, Lose 109-86 in Blowout Fashion
Bugged Down. Needing a Prayer. Closing Soft.
Despite hanging around in the first half, Houston was no match for the defending champs, as the Rockets fell to the Celtics, 109-86, on Friday night. Houston received some very unfortunate news shortly before tip-off. Earlier that day at shootaround, Jabari Smith Jr. broke his left hand, and will be out 4-8 weeks. Bari had started every game of his career, and was beginning to find his shot after a slow shooting start to the season. So besides the Terror Twins, Smith Jr. was out against Boston, leaving the Houston with three key rotational pieces on the sidelines. And it seemingly happened in an instant. After remaining relatively healthy all season, the Rockets have been slammed by the injury bug, with their resilience facing a tough test in the next couple months with Bari’s absence.
Jalen Green led the Rockets with 27 points, but he was only guy who seemed to pressure Boston. Alperen Sengun scored 14 points in the first half, but the Celtics adjusted their defense tremendously and held Sengun scoreless in the second half. This was the final game of Amen Thompson’s two-game suspension, and he was sorely missed against a dominant C’s team. The Rockets needed a prayer on Friday night to win, and Amen wasn’t available to answer the call.
After scoring 31 points in the first half, Houston managed to scored only 30 total points in the second half, including a dismal 14-point showing in the fourth quarter. The Rockets have struggled in fourth quarters for the majority of this season. Houston is one of the best first quarter teams in the league, but even against Dallas, the Rockets managed only 20 points in the final frame. Granted that game was already in Houston’s favor, but it would be nice to see the Rockets have a strong finish to a fourth quarter. They’ve managed it in a few comebacks earlier this season, but lately the squad’s been closing soft.
Up next, the Rockets wrap up their five game homestand as LeBron James and the Lakers make their visit to Houston this season. L.A. has been rolling lately, winners of seven of their past nine games, due mainly to the still-ageless (even at 40 years old), LeBron James. The Rockets have generally played well against the Lakers since Green and Sengun were drafted in 2021. And Houston will have a prayer answered as Thomson will make his return. Given Twin’s versatility on both ends of the floor, one could easily argue Thompson is the most valuable player on this team. Not the best. The most valuable. His intangibles and impact on both ends of the floor, in the halfcourt and transition, make Thompson a nightmare for opposing offenses and defenses on a nightly basis. And when LeBron tries to continue his hot streak, it will be Thompson who guards the King on the majority of possessions… lurking, smothering, hanging on his every move.