Rockets' Efforts Overshadowed by Celtics' Dominant Performance at TD Garden
The Houston Rockets, with a balanced 19-19 record, faced a tough challenge against the Boston Celtics who boasted an impressive 30-9 tally. In a high-scoring affair, the final buzzer saw the scoreboard reading 145-113 in favor of the home team.
At TD Garden, fans witnessed an offensive spectacle as both teams put up significant numbers. The Rockets started strong with 31 points in the first quarter but couldn't maintain their momentum against the relentless Celtics offense. Despite shooting an admirable 87 percent from the free-throw line and contributing a substantial 58 bench points, Houston struggled to contain Boston's sharpshooters who hit an outstanding 51 percent from beyond the arc.
Houston's tenacity was evident through their ten steals and twenty assists over four quarters of play. They also showed prowess inside with 54 points in paint and managed to lead for a brief period totaling just under six minutes. However, they were outrebounded by Boston with a total rebound count of 55 to Boston's 58.
The Rockets' efficiency rating stood at 114 compared to Celtics’ superior rating of 167. A notable performance came from Houston’s bench which contributed significantly with more than half of their total points scored (58). The team also capitalized on fast-break opportunities scoring at a rate of over fifty percent for those attempts.
On defense, however, Houston faced challenges as they allowed Boston to score at will leading to them trailing significantly for most of the game. The defensive efforts resulted in only three blocks compared to eight by Boston and allowed their opponents to take control early on.
Looking ahead for Houston Rockets fans, their next game promises another exciting matchup as they visit Philadelphia to take on the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on January 15th at noon Central Time. This upcoming contest can be viewed nationally on NBA TV channel number two hundred sixteen or locally via Space City Home Network channel six hundred seventy-four.