BOSTON – A first half to forget was erased by a monster third quarter, as the Celtics nearly pulled off a comeback to remember as they fell to the Houston Rockets 93-87.
The Lithuanian Legend Donatas "D-Mo" Montiejunas made Dwight Howard an afterthought, as he scored 26 points and 12 rebounds – a game-high in both categories.
It looked as though the Celtics could close the difference on a comeback as late as the final minutes of the game, but Jared Sullinger kept taking the big shots and missed all of them. The Celtics’ pseudo-captain shot a putrid 4-for-14 and enjoyed the view as D-Mo had his way all night.
A Houston squad adjusting to the loss of Howard managed to figure out a new identity just fine in the first half, making the Celtics’ defense look futile as D-Mo outscored the C’s in the first few minutes.
But Brad Stevens’ defense stepped up in the third, as they held the Rockets to nine points after scoring 60 in the first half. As Houston was able to regain control of the game, Marcus Thornton kept taking threes. And he just kept hitting them.
The gun-slinger off the bench scored 15 points, his second most of the season, as Brandon Bass led the Celtics’ scoring with 17.
The Rockets should have enjoyed a much easier victory if it weren’t for James Harden shooting just 1-for-8 from the field in the second half. The Beard still made his contributions, dishing out a game-high seven assists and grabbing six rebounds.
Poll
What is wrong with the Celtics?
This poll is closed
-
9%
Mediocre defense
(3 votes) -
41%
Can't shoot
(13 votes) -
3%
Evan Turner running point
(1 vote) -
29%
Sully not stepping up
(9 votes) -
16%
Other [ADD COMMENT BELOW!]
(5 votes)