Rockets Beat the Celtics 109-93 Behind Sengun's 26 and Move Into First Place in the West
Houston never trailed, won the paint 50-34 and the fast break 18-2, and at 7-1 owns the West's top spot after Memphis finally lost.
The Houston Rockets finished the win their live file was tracking, beating the Boston Celtics 109-93 on Monday night at Toyota Center. Houston never trailed after a 29-29 first quarter, led 57-50 at halftime, and sealed the game with a 10-0 fourth-quarter run capped by an Alperen Sengun hook shot that made it 97-79, according to the Reuters and Associated Press reports read this cycle.
Sengun was the game: 26 points on 12-of-15 shooting, 10 assists, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks, Reuters reported. Jabari Smith Jr. added a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double as Houston shot 54.4 percent and outscored Boston 50-34 in the paint and 18-2 on the fast break. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 19 points and nine assists, and Luka Garza added 14 off the bench.
The win improved Houston to 7-1 and moved the Rockets into first place in the Western Conference after the previously undefeated Memphis Grizzlies lost to New Orleans in overtime, the AP reported - Houston's best start since the 2014-15 season. Boston, 5-2, lost for the first time since its opener, ending a five-game winning streak on the second night of a back-to-back. Houston hosts Minnesota on Wednesday; Boston hosts Milwaukee.
