Game ID: 22500728
Boston Celtics @ Houston Rockets
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 17 25 21 30 93BOS 18 31 36 29 114
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 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 6 since 1/16, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 14)
BACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 25 min since (94% of 26)
NEW Okogie 17 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/29 · back-to-backBACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 25 min since (94% of 26)
BACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 1 min since (6% of 14)
NEW Okogie 17 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restBACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 4 min since (33% of 14)
NEW Okogie 17 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restBACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 4 min since (33% of 14)
NEW Okogie 17 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restBACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 9 min since (64% of 14)
HOU availability going into 2/05 · back-to-backBACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 9 min since (69% of 14)
HOU availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's rest
full strength
HOU availability going into 2/10 · 2 days' restNEW Eason 26 to 32 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 2/11 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
BOS availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Minott missed 12 since 1/05, returns tonight: 5 min (30% of 16)
OUT Boucher missed 29 since 11/26, out tonight
BOS availability going into 1/30 · 1 day's restOUT Boucher missed 30 since 11/26, returns tonight: 4 min (33% of 10)
BACK Minott back 1/28 after 12, 5 min since (30% of 16)
BOS availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restBACK Minott back 1/28 after 12, 3 min since (22% of 16)
BACK Boucher back 1/30 after 30, 4 min since (33% of 10)
BOS availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restBACK Minott back 1/28 after 12, 3 min since (17% of 16)
BACK Boucher back 1/30 after 30, 4 min since (33% of 10)
BOS availability going into 2/04 · back-to-backOUT Boucher missed 2 since 2/01, not on tonight's roster
BACK Minott back 1/28 after 12, 3 min since (17% of 16)
NEW González 14 to 19 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restBACK Minott back 1/28 after 12, 4 min since (24% of 16)
BACK Boucher back 1/30 after 30, 4 min since (33% of 10)
NEW Queta 25 to 32 min over the last 4
NEW Garza 16 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW González 14 to 20 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restBACK Boucher back 1/30 after 30, 4 min since (33% of 10)
BOS availability going into 2/11 · 2 days' rest
full strength
BOS availability going into 2/19 · 7 days' restNEW Vučević 20 to 26 min over the last 3
NEW Scheierman 18 to 25 min over the last 5
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 108 a night and allowing 103, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Sengun at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 97, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 14 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and Pritchard at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 22 free throws a game to Boston's 14 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and Boston plus-3. Call it Houston 109, Boston 108, Boston keeping it close.
1/28 vs SAS 99-111 — HOU notes
HOU lost 99-111. HOU took 17 more shots (99 to 82), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to SAS's 54%, 8 of 23 from three, and got to the line 18 times to SAS's 24. Thompson led with 25 (11 of 23); Durant added 24, Sengun 18. Q1 was theirs, 36-26, but the other 3 periods went 85-63 against them. They led by as many as 16. Sheppard's -16 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/29 @ ATL 104-86 — HOU notes
HOU won 104-86. HOU shot 42% (39 of 92) to ATL's 37%, 12 of 31 from three, and went to the line 20 times to ATL's 7 — 14 points from the stripe to their 6. The glass went 59-46 for them. Durant led with 31 (12 of 22, 3 of 8 from three); Smith Jr. added 14, Sheppard 13. The hinge was Q3, 35-24: a lead of 1 became 12, and the lead reached 22. Sheppard was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/31 vs DAL 111-107 — HOU notes
HOU won 111-107. HOU shot 42% (45 of 108) to DAL's 45%, 10 of 26 from three, and got to the line 15 times to DAL's 26. HOU turned it over 5 times to DAL's 11. Thompson led with 21 (7 of 15, 7 of 9 at the line); Smith Jr. added 19, Eason 17. The hinge was Q2, 28-23: a lead of 3 became 8. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
2/02 @ IND 118-114 — HOU notes
HOU won 118-114. HOU shot 46% (40 of 87) to IND's 49%, 7 of 22 from three, and went to the line 37 times to IND's 21 — 31 points from the stripe to their 16. HOU turned it over 15 times to IND's 10, and IND turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 56-33 for them. Sengun led with 39 (13 of 25, 13 of 18 at the line); Smith Jr. added 19, Thompson 16. The hinge was Q2, 39-28: HOU came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 7. Tate was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
2/04 vs BOS 93-114 — HOU notes
HOU lost 93-114. HOU shot 41% (34 of 82) to BOS's 43%, 11 of 30 from three. The glass went 38-57 against them. Durant led with 15 (4 of 11, 0 of 4 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Smith Jr. added 13, Sengun 13. Q4 was theirs, 30-29, the deficit cut from 22 to 21, but the other 3 periods went 85-63 against them. Smith Jr.'s -29 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/05 vs CHA — 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 105 a night and allowing 106, shooting 42 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 21 and Sengun at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Charlotte comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Miller at 24 and Ball at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 14 a night. Without Hall (13 straight), Salaün (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Charlotte wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-14 a night and Houston plus-4 and the turnovers, Charlotte giving it away 15 times a game to Houston's 10. Call it Charlotte 111, Houston 110, Houston keeping it close.
2/07 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Holmgren at 16 a game. Without Jal. Williams (9 straight), Mitchell (7 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 106, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 22 and Sengun at 16 a game. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-3 a night and OKC minus-3. Call it OKC 114, Houston 107.
2/10 vs LAC — 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 107 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 20 and Sengun at 18 a game. 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Collins at 17 a game. Without Bogdanović (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 17 times a game to Houston's 12. Call it Houston 112, the Clippers 110, the Clippers keeping it close.
2/11 vs LAC — 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 105 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 23 and Sengun at 20 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 112, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Collins at 18 a game. Without Bogdanović (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Houston 112, the Clippers 108, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/28 vs ATL 106-117 — BOS notes
BOS lost 106-117. BOS shot 47% (42 of 89) to ATL's 48%, 9 of 34 from three. BOS turned it over 16 times to ATL's 9, and ATL turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 51-38 for them. Brown led with 21 (9 of 20, 0 of 5 from three); Pritchard added 12, Hauser 12. Q2 was theirs, 28-22, the deficit cut from 20 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 95-78 against them. Pritchard's -30 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/30 vs SAC 112-93 — BOS notes
BOS won 112-93. BOS shot 45% (42 of 93) to SAC's 37%, 18 of 48 from three, and got to the line 16 times to SAC's 23. BOS turned it over 7 times to SAC's 14. Pritchard led with 29 (12 of 16, 5 of 6 from three); Scheierman added 16, Simons 16. The hinge was Q1, 40-25: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 31. White was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
2/01 vs MIL 107-79 — BOS notes
BOS won 107-79. BOS shot 45% (41 of 92) to MIL's 35%, 15 of 42 from three. The glass went 52-40 for them. Brown led with 30 (12 of 20, 4 of 6 from three); Simons added 27, White 17. The hinge was Q2, 30-16: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 31. White was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
2/03 @ DAL 110-100 — BOS notes
BOS won 110-100. BOS shot 49% (47 of 96) to DAL's 42%, 13 of 39 from three, and got to the line 5 times to DAL's 22. Brown led with 33 (15 of 29, 2 of 5 from three); Pritchard added 26, Garza 16. The hinge was Q3, 34-23: a lead of 8 became 19, and the lead reached 23. Scheierman was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
2/04 @ HOU 114-93 — BOS notes
BOS won 114-93. BOS shot 43% (39 of 90) to HOU's 41%, 19 of 51 from three. The glass went 57-38 for them. White led with 28 (10 of 25, 6 of 14 from three); Pritchard added 27, Garza 19. The hinge was Q3, 36-21: a lead of 7 became 22, and the lead reached 29. Queta was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/06 vs MIA — 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 110 a night and allowing 96, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 14 free throws a game; Brown at 28 and Pritchard at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Adebayo at 20 and Jaquez Jr. at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Herro (11 straight), Powell (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 96 a night to Miami's 118 and the line, where Miami takes 24 free throws a game to Boston's 14. Call it Boston 117, Miami 110.
2/08 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 92, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 15 free throws a game; Brown at 31 and Pritchard at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 23 and Anunoby at 22 a game. Without McBride (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 92 a night to New York's 109. Call it Boston 112, New York 108, New York keeping it close.
2/11 vs CHI — 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 104 a night and allowing 96, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 15 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and White at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest. Chicago comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 129, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Simons at 20 and Buzelis at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Giddey (7 straight), Jones (10 straight), Smith (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 96 a night to Chicago's 129 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-7 a night and Chicago minus-5. Call it Boston 118, Chicago 107, Boston by 11.
2/19 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 14 free throws a game; Moody at 15 and Spencer at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Ste. Curry (5 straight), Porziņģis (2 straight), Cryer (8 straight). 7 days' rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 101, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 15 free throws a game; Brown at 28 and Pritchard at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. 7 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-7 a night and Golden State minus-4 and the defense, Boston allowing 101 a night to Golden State's 111. Call it Boston 110, Golden State 109, Golden State keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSBS B. Scheierman
DW D. White
HG H. González
JM J. Minott
JW J. Walsh
LG L. Garza
MS M. Shulga
NQ N. Queta
PP P. Pritchard
RH R. Harper Jr.
XT X. Tillman
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
IC I. Crawford
JD J. Davison
JG J. Green
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
TE T. Eason
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's 28 points power Celtics to 114-93 win over Rockets
HOUSTON -- — Derrick White made six 3-pointers and scored 28 points and the Boston Celtics used a big third quarter to build the lead and cruise to a 114-93 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.
White’s performance helped the Celtics win a fourth straight game despite missing star Jaylen Brown , who sat out with left hamstring tightness in the second game of a back-to-back.
Houston coach Ime Udoka was ejected at the end of the third quarter after receiving a double technical for arguing with officials, and Alperen Sengun was tossed midway through the fourth after receiving two technical fouls for yelling at an official following a no-call.
The Rockets trailed by four after a 3-pointer by Amen Thompson early in the third before Boston went on an 18-3 run to make it 67-48 with about seven minutes left in the quarter. The Celtics made five 3-pointers in that stretch, with two apiece from White and Baylor Scheierman .
Thompson made a basket for Houston before Boston used a 10-1 spurt to push the lead to 77-51 with four minutes remaining in the quarter. White led the way during that run, scoring the first eight points, with two 3-pointers.
Reed Sheppard received a loose ball foul near the end of the quarter and Udoka received two technical fouls after the call and was tossed. Boston converted four free throws off those fouls to make it 87-63 entering the fourth.
Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 15 points in his return after sitting out Monday with a sprained left ankle. Sengun, who had 39 points and 16 rebounds in Monday’s win over Indiana, had 13 points and nine rebounds.
Neemias Queta had 10 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, and Luka Garza added 19 points to help the Celtics to the victory.