The Celtics head into Houston on Monday night carrying the wear and tear of a road back-to-back, and they’ll have to manage it without Paul George. George is out for rest, joining Devin Carter, who is out with an illness.
Boston is coming off a win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday afternoon and now gets the second leg of the trip at Toyota Center with a chance to move to 6-1. Mitchell Robinson sat out the win over Orlando for rest purposes, and now George gets the same treatment as the Celtics try to find whatever energy they can on the second night in a row.
Houston has been rolling early. The Rockets enter at 6-1 and have been powered by a core that’s producing across the board, with Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson all putting up big numbers.
Sengun has been the engine through the first seven games. In five appearances, he’s averaging 22.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 53.2% from the field and 54.5% from deep on 2.2 3-point attempts per game.
Durant has been right there too, posting 22.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks while shooting 51.1% from the floor and 40.7% on 3.9 3-pointers a night.
Smith has given Houston another dangerous shooting threat, averaging 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while hitting 48.9% from the field and 44.7% on 6.7 3-point attempts per contest.
Thompson has filled the box score as well, with 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 52.3% from the field and 28.6% on 1.0 3-point attempt a night.
The Rockets’ injury report includes Steven Adams out with a right soleus strain, Clint Cpela out with a right ankle sprain, Quadir Copeland out because of the G League, two-way, Julian Phillips out because of the G League, two-way, and Reed Sheppard questionable with a low back strain.
These teams split their two meetings last season. Boston was blown out at home on November 2, 2025, then answered in February with a dominant road win in Houston. With Jaylen Brown sidelined, the Celtics used a short-handed starting group that included a double-big look and Ron Harper Jr., and they overwhelmed the Rockets on their own floor.
In Other News...
Payton Pritchard Is Becoming A Real Celtics Ceiling Question
Payton Pritchard has already shown this season why the Celtics believe he can swing a game off the bench. Boston is 5-1, and Pritchard has been part of that start as a secondary scoring option who can change the tone in a hurry when his shot is falling. Through six games, he is averaging 15 points and 3.5 assists, numbers that reflect both his value and the role he has settled into as one of the teams most important reserve guards.
The issue for Boston is less about whether Pritchard can help and more about how often he can do it. He has flashed real scoring pop in a couple of games, but the Celtics need a steadier version of him if they want their offense to hold up against the leagues best teams. For a roster with championship expectations, the question around Pritchard is becoming part of the larger ceiling conversation, because Boston will need more than occasional bursts if it wants his impact to match its ambitions. [Read more 🡒]
Luka Garza Just Gave Celtics Fans A Real Rotation Debate
Luka Garza gave the Celtics something they did not always have in a rough offensive night: a frontcourt option who could space the floor. He scored 14 points and knocked down four 3-pointers, which stood out in a game where Boston had trouble getting much going and Houston dictated the action with its work inside and in transition.
For a team still sorting out its big-man mix, Garzas shooting touch adds a wrinkle the coaching staff has to weigh as the rotation gets revisited. The loss left Boston with more questions than answers, but it also offered a reminder that there may be another way to use the frontcourt if the Celtics want more perimeter punch from that group. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Let A Winnable Game Slip Away In Another Brutal Rockets Matchup
The Celtics had a chance to turn a familiar matchup with Houston into a useful road win, but instead they let it slip in a 109-93 loss that felt winnable for long stretches. Boston could not cash in when the game was there for the taking, and the offense never found enough rhythm to overcome a night when Jayson Tatum and others struggled to get shots to fall.
Houston kept leaning on Alperen Sengun, who dictated the game from the middle of the floor and made Boston pay for every missed opportunity. Mitchell Robinson drew the tough defensive assignment of trying to handle Sengun, and the physical battle only added to an already difficult night for the Celtics, who now have another frustrating Rockets game to sort through. [Read more 🡒]