Game ID: 22400471
Boston Celtics @ Houston Rockets
Friday, January 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 31 25 16 14 86BOS 37 28 17 27 109
BOS @ HOU ScoutingBOS @ HOU Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
HOU availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 3 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 29 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 15 min since (97% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (111% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 4 min since (30% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 12/23 after 11, 7 min since (57% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 11 min since (94% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 36 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Brooks missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 4 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 30 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 18 min since (117% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 15 min since (121% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 12/23 after 11, 8 min since (67% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 12 min since (109% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 34 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks missed 3 since 12/23, returns tonight: 40 min (126% of 32)
OUT Eason missed 5 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 31 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 17 min since (109% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (104% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 12/23 after 11, 8 min since (67% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (116% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 35 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 6 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 32 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 40 min since (126% of 32)
HOU availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 7 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 33 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 5 min (40% of 12)
OUT Landale missed 3 since 12/27, returns tonight: 5 min (42% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 3 since 12/27, returns tonight: 29 min (250% of 12)
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 40 min since (126% of 32)
HOU availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 2 since 1/01, returns tonight: 41 min (126% of 32)
OUT Eason missed 8 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 34 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 37 min since (116% of 32)
BACK Sheppard back 1/03 after 2, 5 min since (40% of 12)
BACK Landale back 1/03 after 3, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/03 after 3, 29 min since (250% of 12)
NEW Whitmore 15 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Tate 11 to 17 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 9 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 35 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 1/05 after 2, 41 min since (126% of 32)
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 36 min since (113% of 32)
BACK Sheppard back 1/03 after 2, 5 min since (40% of 12)
BACK Landale back 1/03 after 3, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/03 after 3, 29 min since (250% of 12)
HOU availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 10 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 36 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 1/05 after 2, 41 min since (126% of 32)
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 32 min since (102% of 32)
BACK Landale back 1/03 after 3, 4 min since (34% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/03 after 3, 19 min since (167% of 12)
NEW Whitmore 15 to 21 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/13 · 3 days' restOUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 11 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 37 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 3 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 1/05 after 2, 39 min since (121% of 32)
BACK Landale back 1/03 after 3, 4 min since (34% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/03 after 3, 19 min since (167% of 12)
NEW Whitmore 15 to 21 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT Scheierman missed 9 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Hauser back 12/23 after 2, 15 min since (71% of 21)
BACK Queta back 12/25 after 2, 8 min since (59% of 13)
BOS availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 2 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Scheierman missed 10 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Hauser back 12/23 after 2, 16 min since (79% of 21)
BACK Queta back 12/25 after 2, 9 min since (64% of 13)
BOS availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 12/25, returns tonight: 25 min (81% of 31)
OUT Porziņģis missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Scheierman missed 11 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Hauser back 12/23 after 2, 17 min since (83% of 21)
BACK Queta back 12/25 after 2, 7 min since (56% of 13)
BOS availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 3 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Scheierman missed 12 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 12/31 after 3, 25 min since (81% of 31)
BACK Hauser back 12/23 after 2, 17 min since (83% of 21)
BACK Queta back 12/25 after 2, 10 min since (77% of 13)
BOS availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Porziņģis missed 4 since 12/27, returns tonight: 28 min (101% of 27)
OUT Scheierman missed 13 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 12/31 after 3, 32 min since (104% of 31)
BACK Queta back 12/25 after 2, 12 min since (94% of 13)
BOS availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Brown missed 2 since 1/02, returns tonight: 40 min (114% of 35)
OUT Scheierman missed 14 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 12/31 after 3, 31 min since (99% of 31)
BACK Porziņģis back 1/03 after 4, 28 min since (101% of 27)
BOS availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Scheierman missed 15 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Brown back 1/05 after 2, 40 min since (114% of 35)
BACK Holiday back 12/31 after 3, 31 min since (102% of 31)
BACK Porziņģis back 1/03 after 4, 28 min since (105% of 27)
BOS availability going into 1/10 · 2 days' restOUT Scheierman missed 16 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Brown back 1/05 after 2, 39 min since (113% of 35)
BACK Holiday back 12/31 after 3, 32 min since (102% of 31)
BACK Porziņģis back 1/03 after 4, 30 min since (112% of 27)
BOS availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Scheierman missed 17 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Brown back 1/05 after 2, 38 min since (109% of 35)
BACK Porziņģis back 1/03 after 4, 30 min since (110% of 27)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Eason (7 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 28 and Tatum at 26 a game. Without Porziņģis (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to Houston's 34 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 13 times a game to Boston's 9. Call it Houston 113, Boston 112, Boston keeping it close.
12/26 @ NOP 128-111 — HOU notes
HOU won 128-111. HOU shot 47% (46 of 97) to NOP's 43%, 18 of 47 from three. The glass went 54-44 for them. J. Green led with 30 (12 of 21, 6 of 11 from three); Whitmore added 27, VanVleet 25. The hinge was Q1, 39-22: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 30. J. Green was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
12/27 vs MIN 112-113 — HOU notes
HOU lost 112-113. HOU took 9 more shots (92 to 83), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 49% to MIN's 51%, 10 of 30 from three. Sengun led with 38 (16 of 25, 6 of 10 at the line); Thompson added 20, VanVleet 18. Q3 was theirs, 32-19, turning a 5-point deficit into a 8-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 94-80 against them. They led by as many as 16.
12/29 vs MIA 100-104 — HOU notes
HOU lost 100-104. HOU took 13 more shots (97 to 84), fed by 19 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to MIA's 44%, 13 of 40 from three, and got to the line 13 times to MIA's 28. Brooks led with 22 (8 of 20, 5 of 12 from three); Green added 19, Sengun 18. Q3 was theirs, 32-28, turning a 3-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 76-68 against them. They led by as many as 12. Thompson's -17 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/01 vs DAL 110-99 — HOU notes
HOU won 110-99. HOU shot 47% (42 of 89) to DAL's 53%, 8 of 25 from three, and went to the line 23 times to DAL's 16 — 18 points from the stripe to their 8. HOU turned it over 12 times to DAL's 20. Sengun led with 23 (9 of 16, 5 of 8 at the line); Green added 22, Brooks 19. The hinge was Q2, 37-22: HOU came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 9, and the lead reached 18. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
1/03 vs BOS 86-109 — HOU notes
HOU lost 86-109. HOU took 11 more shots (88 to 77), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 36% to BOS's 51%, 10 of 36 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 21 fouls committed. Ja. Green led with 27 (10 of 21, 5 of 13 from three); Sengun added 14, Whitmore 11. Q3 was theirs, 16-17, but the other 3 periods went 92-70 against them. Sengun's -28 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/05 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Green at 22 and Sengun at 21 a game. Without Thompson (2 straight), Eason (8 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 30 and Reaves at 24 a game. Without Vincent (3 straight), Vanderbilt (28 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Houston's 33. Call it Houston 113, the Lakers 109, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/07 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Sarr at 16 and Brogdon at 14 a game. Without Coulibaly (2 straight), Holmes (6 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 21 a game. Without Smith Jr. (2 straight), Eason (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 108 a night to Washington's 122 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 16 times a game to Houston's 11. Call it Houston 114, Washington 111, Washington keeping it close.
1/09 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 27 and Bane at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Morant (5 straight), Aldama (6 straight), Smart (8 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Green at 26 and Sengun at 19 a game. Without Smith Jr. (3 straight), Eason (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 18 times a game to Houston's 10 and the defense, Houston allowing 108 a night to Memphis's 121. Call it Memphis 115, Houston 113, Houston keeping it close.
1/13 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Green at 28 and Sengun at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Smith Jr. (4 straight), Eason (11 straight). 3 days' rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 28 and Bane at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Smart (10 straight), Williams Jr. (24 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 17 times a game to Houston's 10 and the defense, Houston allowing 110 a night to Memphis's 121. Call it Houston 117, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
12/27 vs IND 142-105 — BOS notes
BOS won 142-105. BOS shot 51% (47 of 92) to IND's 42%, 23 of 56 from three. The glass went 52-39 for them. Brown led with 44 (16 of 24, 6 of 11 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Tatum added 22, Pritchard 18. The hinge was Q1, 39-22: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 38. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
12/29 vs IND 114-123 — BOS notes
BOS lost 114-123. BOS shot 46% (43 of 93) to IND's 53%, 16 of 54 from three, and got to the line 19 times to IND's 27. Brown led with 31 (13 of 21, 2 of 6 from three); Tatum added 22, Pritchard 21. Q1 was theirs, 29-27, but the other 3 periods went 96-85 against them. Tatum's -21 in 41 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/31 vs TOR 125-71 — BOS notes
BOS won 125-71. BOS shot 54% (47 of 87) to TOR's 31%, 22 of 43 from three. BOS turned it over 13 times to TOR's 21. Tatum led with 23 (6 of 13, 4 of 9 from three, 7 of 11 at the line); Pritchard added 19, White 16. The hinge was Q3, 45-18: a lead of 10 became 37, and the lead reached 56. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +38.
1/02 @ MIN 118-115 — BOS notes
BOS won 118-115. BOS shot 50% (46 of 92) to MIN's 50%, 22 of 57 from three, and got to the line 6 times to MIN's 22. BOS turned it over 3 times to MIN's 15. The glass went 31-41 against them. Tatum led with 33 (13 of 27, 6 of 17 from three); White added 26, Hauser 15. The hinge was Q2, 34-16: BOS came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 11. Queta was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/03 @ HOU 109-86 — BOS notes
BOS won 109-86. BOS shot 51% (39 of 77) to HOU's 36%, 19 of 39 from three, and went to the line 18 times to HOU's 12 — 12 points from the stripe to their 12. White led with 23 (8 of 16, 6 of 12 from three); Tatum added 20, Pritchard 20. The hinge was Q4, 27-14: a lead of 10 became 23, and the lead reached 28. White was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
1/05 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (24 straight), Caruso (6 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 100, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brown at 29 and Tatum at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Brown (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 41 percent from three to OKC's 35 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-1 a night and OKC minus-4. Call it OKC 112, Boston 111, Boston keeping it close.
1/07 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 37 and Porter Jr. at 24 a game. Without Gordon (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 100, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Tatum at 25 and Brown at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 100 a night to Denver's 117 and the line, where Denver takes 23 free throws a game to Boston's 16. Call it Denver 116, Boston 115, Boston keeping it close.
1/10 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 97, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and White at 19 a game. 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Monk at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Fox (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 97 a night to Sacramento's 111 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-7 a night and Boston plus-1. Call it Boston 115, Sacramento 110.
1/12 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 25 and Brown at 21 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCollum at 28 and Murray at 18 a game. Without Murphy III (3 straight), Williamson (2 straight), Payton (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 38 percent from three to Boston's 33 and the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to New Orleans's 111. Call it Boston 115, New Orleans 107.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSDP D. Peterson
DW D. White
JH J. Holiday
JS J. Springer
JT J. Tatum
JW J. Walsh
KP K. Porziņģis
LK L. Kornet
NQ N. Queta
PP P. Pritchard
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
XT X. Tillman
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JL J. Landale
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
BOS/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Derrick White scores 23 points as Celtics roll to 109-86 win over Rockets
HOUSTON -- — Derrick White had 23 points and Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard added 20 each to lead the Boston Celtics to a 109-86 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
The Celtics led by 10 after three and scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter to push their advantage to 93-72. White, Kristaps Porzingis and Pritchard made 3s in that stretch to help the Celtics pull away for their third straight victory.
Boston was up by 21 points with about 4 1/2 minutes to go when coach Joe Mazzulla cleared the bench.
Porzingis added 11 points with five rebounds in his return after missing four games with a sprained left ankle.
Jalen Green had 27 points for the Rockets. They lost for the third time in four games.
Takeaways Celtics: Boston had no trouble handling Houston despite playing without Jaylen Brown , who missed a second straight game with a shoulder strain. Sam Hauser , who had 15 points Thursday night filling in for Brown, didn't score Friday night.
Rockets: Houston started 38-year-old Jeff Green for the first time this season with news Friday that Jabari Smith Jr. could miss up to two months after breaking a bone in his hand during shootaround. Amen Thompson , the fourth pick in the 2023 draft, will fill in for him moving forward after finishing up a two-game suspension Friday night for a fight with Miami’s Tyler Herro last weekend.
Key moment Boston’s big run to open the fourth quarter and extend the lead to 21 points.
Key stat The Rockets made just 32 of 88 shots with Green going 10 of 21 and Cam Whitmore making just 4 of 17.
Up next The Celtics visit Oklahoma City on Sunday, and the Rockets host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.