HOUSTON, Texas — Alperen Sengun ran the offense from the post and the Houston Rockets pulled away late on Monday night, handing the Boston Celtics a 109-93 loss and ending their five-game winning streak.
Sengun finished with 26 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, plus two steals and two blocks. The win lifted Houston to 7-1 and into first place in the Western Conference, since previously unbeaten Memphis fell to New Orleans in overtime the same night. It is the best start for the franchise since the 2014-15 season.
This one stayed close for a long time. Boston answered an early 25-15 Houston lead to tie it 29-29 after one quarter, and the Rockets were only up 57-50 at the half and 82-73 heading into the fourth.
Then Houston strung together 10 straight points. Marcus Smart hit two 3-pointers, Reed Sheppard added a 3 and a layup, and Sengun finished the burst with a hook shot that made it 97-79. When Boston cut it to 13, Sengun found Amen Thompson for a dunk with 2:29 to go to put it away.
Jabari Smith Jr. had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, Thompson scored 14, Tari Eason added 13 off the bench and Kevin Durant chipped in 12 while missing just one of his six shots. Houston shot 54.4% and owned the inside, winning the paint 50-34 and fast-break points 18-2.
Boston got a team-high 19 from Jayson Tatum, who also handed out nine assists, though he shot just 5 for 16. Neemias Queta scored 16 and Luka Garza made four 3-pointers for 14 points. Paul George rested for Boston, and Houston center Clint Capela sat with a right ankle sprain.
The Rockets stay home Wednesday night against Minnesota.
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