Kevin Durant Leads Rockets to Dominant Win Over Celtics
BOSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 26 points in just three quarters before resting in the fourth, while Amen Thompson contributed 17 points and nine rebounds. The Houston Rockets defeated the Boston Celtics 128-101 on Saturday night.
Rockets' Key Performances
- Alperen Sengun recorded 16 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.
- Josh Okogie added 12 points.
- Houston won its third consecutive game after starting the season 0-2.
Celtics' Struggles
- Baylor Scheierman was Boston’s top scorer with 17 points.
- Payton Pritchard scored 14 points.
- Josh Minott contributed 10 points and six rebounds.
- Jaylen Brown scored 12 points but sat out the fourth quarter after leading the Celtics with 32 points in their previous win against Philadelphia.
- The Celtics were out of sync and unable to match Durant and Houston’s pace.
Game Dynamics
The Rockets shot an impressive 57 percent in the first half, building a 66-48 lead at halftime. Houston also dominated the boards, outrebounding Boston 53-36.
Kevin Durant made 8 of 11 shots from the floor and was 8 for 9 from the foul line, including hitting three straight free throws during a sequence of technical fouls early in the third quarter as Boston’s frustrations grew.
The Rockets' strong effort ended Boston’s three-game winning streak and marked a decisive victory.
Author’s summary: The Houston Rockets showcased a commanding performance led by Kevin Durant’s efficient scoring to hand the Celtics a heavy home defeat, highlighting Boston’s struggles to compete.