James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined for 78 points on Tuesday night, leading the Houston Rockets to a 116-105 win over the Boston Celtics at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
It was a back and forth first half with both teams holding a lead. Boston (37-16) scored the first five points of the game and led by as many as five in the opening quarter, before a Westbrook dunk halfway through the period gave Houston their first lead of the night. The Rockets led by as many as six and 23-19 at the end of the first 12 minutes. The Celtics took back the lead 29-27 on a Jaylen Brown layup at the 8:35 mark of the second quarter. Houston took the momentum back and would go up eight on a 16-6 run after a technical foul was called on the Celtics Kemba Walker, and Harden made the technical foul shot. Boston scored eight straight quickly and tied it on a Gordon Hayward three-pointer 1:26 later. The green took the lead on a Daniel Theis layup and led by as many as four late in the half, and took a two point advantage at halftime 49-47 on a Jayson Tatum dunk. Walker had 14 first half points to help the Celtics to the lead.
Houston (34-20) would swing the lead back in their favor once again scoring the first four points of the third quarter, and would build it to 12 at 72-60 on a Harden three-pointer with 2:50 left. Boston cut the deficit in half at six, but trailed 78-71 headed to the fourth quarter. The Celtics scored two quick baskets in the final quarter to slice it to three. After the Rockets went back up seven, Jaylen Brown knocked down a three-pointer and Walker made a steal and got it to Tatum for a breakaway jam to make it a two point game 96-94 forcing a timeout. Houston would answer that with five straight points to extend the advantage back to seven. Five points would be the closest Boston would get the rest of the way, as the hosts finished the last 5:40 by outscoring the Celtics 20-11 and took their largest lead of the night at 116-98 on a Harden three-pointer with 1:56 left. The loss snaps a seven game Boston win streak.
All five Boston starters scored in double figures in the loss. Hayward led the way with 20 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Brown had 19 points. Tatum had 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Walker finished with 14 points (none in second half), adding four rebounds, and four assists. Theis also had 11 points and nine rebounds. Harden was the game high scorer in the win for Houston finishing with 42 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists (7-16 three-pointers). Westbrook finished with 36 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Danuel House Jr. also had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Robert Covington chipped in 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Boston heads back home to host Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.
