Sengun scores 26 as Rockets beat Celtics 109-93

Alperen Sengun scored 26 points on 12-of-15 shooting, and the Houston Rockets pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Boston Celtics 109-93 on Monday, November 2.

Sengun added 10 assists and seven rebounds, with one turnover in 38 minutes. His passing set the tone for an offense that finished with 34 assists.

The Rockets (7-1) never trailed. The first quarter ended 29-29, and Houston outscored Boston 28-21 in the second. The Celtics (5-2) played without Paul George, who was out for rest.

Houston won the third quarter 25-23 to keep the Celtics at arm's length. Early in the fourth, a 10-0 Rockets run that began with 8:31 left ended at 97-79 with 6:52 to play. The 18-point margin was the largest of the game.

Jabari Smith Jr. had 14 points and 10 rebounds and went 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Kevin Durant scored 12 on 5-of-6 shooting, and Tari Eason added 13 off the bench.

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 19 points and nine assists, but he made 5 of 16 shots, missed six of his seven 3-point attempts and turned the ball over five times. Neemias Queta scored 16 on 6-of-7 shooting, and Luka Garza made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 off the bench.

Houston had an effective field goal percentage of 63.3 to Boston's 45.8. The Celtics went 12-of-42 from 3-point range, and their 13 offensive rebounds did little to close the gap.

The final five minutes began with Houston ahead 100-84, and each team scored nine points after that. Smith's 3-pointer with 1:46 left, set up by Fred VanVleet, made it 107-89. Bruce Thornton's pullup jumper gave Houston its 109th point, and Chris Cenac Jr. closed the scoring for Boston with an alley-oop dunk.

Up next

Rockets: home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, November 4.

Celtics: home against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, November 4.