The Celtics fell apart defensively on the final two possessions as Dillon Brooks and the Rockets claimed a 114-112 victory.
Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks is known for his ability to irritate opponents. Doing this regularly during his six seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, Brooks led the NBA with 18 technical fouls during the 2022-23 season ( via Fox Sports ).
The Celtics accomplished that, holding the Rockets’ top three leading scorers to 30 total points on 9-of-32 shooting (3-for-14 on 3-pointers). But their decision to force Houston to play through Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson backfired.
Kristaps Porzingis was whistled for a technical foul after bumping Rockets guard Dillon Brooks in the first quarter on Monday night. Ultimately, it was Brooks that got the last laugh though in a 114-112 comeback win over the Celtics at TD Garden.
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the rest of the Celtics were surprised by the 3-point barrage from Rockets forward Dillon Brooks.
The crucialness of Kristaps Porzingis’s health to the Celtics’ chances of genuinely contending cannot be overstated.
Dillon Brooks had a career night against the Celtics on Monday, but he's far from the only player who has stepped up his game against Boston.
The Houston Rockets (30-14) play the final game of a two-game season series against the Boston Celtics (32-14) on Monday at TD Garden. The Celtics handed the Rockets their biggest loss of the season in a 109-86 blowout at Toyota Center on Jan.
Amen Thompson and Dillon Brooks filled reporters' notebooks - including "I feel like Kobe" - after the Rockets pulled off a huge win against the Celtics.
Al Horford did play in the Celtics' earlier meeting against the Pelicans. He scored 11 points and pulled down seven rebounds in a 120-119 win on January 12. The Celtics are 6-4 in their last ten games. So, when it comes to the question of if Al Horford is playing tonight vs. the Pelicans, the answer is most likely.
The Memphis Grizzlies (31-16) are hosting the Houston Rockets (32-14) on Thursday night; the date, time, TV channels, and free live stream.