The Celtics’ five-game winning streak ended Monday night in Houston, where the Rockets beat Boston 109-93 behind Alperen Sengun’s scoring and a difficult shooting night for the visitors. The loss left the Celtics at 5-2 ahead of a brief return home.
Sengun led all scorers with 26 points and added 10 rebounds and seven assists, according to NBC Boston’s recap. Boston shot 39 percent overall and 29 percent from beyond the arc, finishing 16 points behind Houston after winning in Orlando the previous afternoon.
The game completed a back-to-back that required the Celtics to travel from Orlando to Houston between contests. Boston had extended its winning run Sunday, but could not carry that result into Monday’s matchup. NBC Boston highlighted the compressed travel schedule alongside the Celtics’ shooting struggles.
The loss also brought Boston back into contact with former Celtic Marcus Smart. MassLive’s accounts highlighted Smart’s disruptive play for Houston as another notable part of the night, alongside the end of the winning streak.
Shooting struggles and Sengun’s production
The shooting percentages told a central part of Boston’s story. The Celtics finished below 40 percent from the field and below 30 percent on 3-point attempts, leaving them with 93 points on a night when Houston reached 109. NBC Boston framed the defeat around those offensive difficulties.
Houston, meanwhile, received production from Sengun in several areas. His game-high scoring total came with a double-double in points and rebounds, while his seven assists added a playmaking contribution. Those numbers made him a central figure in the Rockets’ victory.
Boston’s lineup again included Neemias Queta as a starter. MassLive reported that Queta made his second consecutive start and selected him for its individual player recognition despite the defeat. His continued place in the starting group was one of the Celtics-specific developments noted in the outlet’s coverage.
Smart’s appearance supplied a different point of familiarity for Boston. MassLive emphasized the former Celtic in both its immediate takeaways and subsequent account of the game, focusing on the troublesome presence he remained for his old team.
A short stop in Boston
The result ended the Celtics’ run of victories rather than a home stand: Boston had played Sunday in Orlando and Monday in Houston, with more travel approaching. Its next scheduled game offers a pause in that road schedule, but only for one contest before another extended trip.
The Celtics leave Houston with five wins through seven games. Monday’s defeat was their second loss, and it shifts attention to whether they can rebound at home after the shooting problems that marked the end of their streak.
What’s next: Boston hosts the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, according to NBC Boston. The Celtics then begin a four-game road trip, making the Milwaukee matchup a brief home appearance between stretches away.
