Rockets' top offense meets Celtics who struggle on the glass

The Boston Celtics (5-1), winners of five straight, visit the Houston Rockets (6-1) on Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET, as the league's best offense faces a team that struggles to finish defensive possessions.

Houston scores 119.6 points per 100 possessions, first in the league, and much of it comes from second chances: the Rockets grab 32.5% of their own misses, second best.

That is where Boston is vulnerable. The Celtics secure 68.4% of opponents' misses, 27th in the league, so every Houston miss stays a live ball.

Boston's route back runs through the three-point line and the steal. The Celtics take 45.9% of their shots from deep, seventh, while Houston ranks 26th in three-point rate. Boston also forces turnovers on 14.9% of possessions, fifth.

Jayson Tatum carries the Celtics with 28.3 points and 7.7 assists a game. Paul George averages 2.3 steals.

Alperen Sengun leads Houston with 22.8 points a game and grabs three offensive rebounds a night. Kevin Durant adds 1.7 blocks a game.

Houston's frontcourt is thin. Steven Adams is out and Clint Capela is questionable, which leaves the backup center minutes in doubt. Reed Sheppard, who plays 23.3 minutes a game, is also questionable, and two more Rockets are out.

Boston is without center Mitchell Robinson and guard Devin Carter, both out. With Robinson's 20.1 minutes a game gone, Neemias Queta, who blocks 1.7 shots a game, holds the middle.

The Celtics' streak includes a 125-124 win over Brooklyn and a 107-103 win over the Knicks. Houston's only loss came at Dallas, 116-111, and its last game was a 119-98 win over Oklahoma City.

The sportsbooks give Houston a 63% chance to win. Our projection, built on the available players, puts it at 64% with a 4.5-point margin.