Luka Garza gave the Celtics something they badly needed in Houston: a frontcourt scorer who could step outside and make the Rockets pay.
Boston’s 93-point night ended in a loss, but Garza’s line stood out anyway. He finished with 14 points and knocked down four 3-pointers, giving the Celtics a perimeter threat they didn’t consistently find elsewhere as they struggled to score without Paul George.
That lack of offense showed up all over the floor. Houston controlled the paint 50-34 and also held an 18-2 edge in fast-break points, making it tough for Boston to settle in and build any rhythm. The Celtics had a hard time creating easy looks, and the Rockets made sure that problem never went away.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 19 points, but he needed 16 shots to get there and finished 5-for-16 from the field. Neemias Queta added 16 points, while the Celtics as a team were held to 93 after putting up 108 against Orlando the night before. Boston entered the game on a five-game winning streak, but Houston kept the Celtics from finding the same offensive flow.
Garza’s shooting was one of the few things that worked. Four made threes from a big man can change the shape of a game, and it gave Boston a different kind of spacing than it usually gets from its frontcourt. That kind of floor-stretching can open room for Tatum and the guards, especially when defenses are packed around the basket.
Of course, one good night doesn’t lock in a bigger role. Joe Mazzulla still has to weigh defense, rebounding and how the lineup fits together. Garza’s skill set may be most useful against teams willing to leave a big man open on the perimeter, but Boston also has to make sure it doesn’t give away too much on the other end.
The Celtics head home Wednesday to face Milwaukee, and that matchup should give them another chance to sort through the frontcourt rotation. Monday’s loss exposed some issues, but it also showed that Garza can provide a scoring punch worth keeping in mind.
In Other News...
Celtics Face A Brutal Energy Test On The Road Tonight
The Celtics head to Toyota Center tonight looking to keep their early-season momentum rolling after a win over the Orlando Magic, with a chance to move to 6-1. Even with Boston dealing with absences, this is the kind of road spot that asks plenty of a teams legs and focus, especially against a Houston group that has had its own injury and G League-related turnover.
Houston has still found production from its top end, with Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun giving the Rockets a sturdy foundation despite the missing pieces around them. For Boston, the challenge is less about the opponents availability and more about matching the energy level from the opening tip, because a night like this can turn quickly if the Celtics are even a step slow. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]
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 🡒]