The Houston Rockets are set to face a tough challenge as they visit the Boston Celtics on Monday night. Not only are the Celtics the defending NBA champions, but Derrick White has also recently broken out of his shooting slump, adding another layer of difficulty for the Rockets.
The Rockets are coming off a thrilling 135-131 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, with 6-foot-7 forward Amen Thompson recording his second career triple-double with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. Thompson has been a standout performer, averaging 17.7 points in his last 10 games and posting double-digit rebounds in three of his last four games.
However, the Celtics have been in excellent form, finishing a four-game road trip with a 122-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. Derrick White, who had been struggling with his shooting, scored 23 points to help the Celtics secure the victory. White entered the game shooting 37.4 percent in January but shot 7 of 10 from the field, including four 3-pointers, after missing his first six shots.
Boston’s starting lineup was dominant against the Mavericks, scoring 104 points with each starter contributing at least 17 points. The Celtics made 20 of their 52 attempts from beyond the arc, shooting 38.5 percent from 3-point range.
The Rockets, on the other hand, have been on a roll, winning two in a row and boasting a 9-1 record in road games since December 8. They will need to bring their A-game to Boston, where the Celtics have been strong at home, holding a 15-8 record this season.
This will be the second meeting between the teams this season. In their first matchup on January 3, the Celtics won 109-86 in Houston, with Derrick White scoring a team-high 23 points. The Rockets struggled, shooting just 36.4 percent from the field.
The Celtics will be without Cam Thomas due to a left hamstring injury, and Cameron Johnson will sit out for the 10th time in 13 games due to a right ankle injury. Ben Simmons could also be out with back soreness.
For the Rockets, Amen Thompson did not play in the first game against the Celtics as he was serving a two-game suspension. The Rockets will be looking to improve their performance and secure a win against the defending champions.
