Kristaps Porzingis Leads Boston Celtics to Victory Over Short-Handed Houston Rockets

Kristaps Porzingis showcased his scoring prowess, putting up 32 points to lead the NBA-leading Boston Celtics to a 116-107 triumph over the short-handed Houston Rockets on Sunday night.

The Celtics bounced back from their first home loss of the season against Denver on Friday, improving their record to 33-10. Boston boasts an impressive 20-1 record at home and holds a 13-9 record on the road.

Porzingis was in stellar form, connecting on 11 of 20 field-goal attempts, including 6 of 11 from beyond the arc. The versatile forward also contributed five crucial blocks to anchor the Celtics’ defense. Derrick White had a strong performance with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Jayson Tatum contributed 18 points despite a 4-of-17 shooting performance. Jaylen Brown added 13 points to the winning effort.

For the short-handed Rockets, Dillon Brooks led the scoring with 25 points, hitting 5 of 15 from 3-point range. Alperen Sengun had an impressive outing with 24 points, and Jalen Green contributed 16 points. Rookie Amen Thompson had a double-double with 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.

The Rockets, playing less than 24 hours after an overtime victory against Utah, faced numerous absences, including Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr., Jeff Green, Reggie Bullock, and Tari Eason.

On the Celtics’ side, Al Horford (rest) and Jrue Holiday (right elbow sprain) were sidelined. However, Aaron Holiday stepped up off the bench, recording 12 points and five assists for Houston.

The Celtics once again dominated the Rockets, outrebounding them 56-49 and capitalizing on 17 offensive rebounds. The second-chance points proved crucial, as Boston outscored Houston 23-10 in that category. The victory marked another success for the Celtics over their former coach Ime Udoka’s current team, following a dominant 145-113 win in Boston on January 13.