Celtics vs. Rockets: Porzingis propels the C’s to a comeback victory

The Boston Celtics responded strongly after their first home defeat this season, securing a victory to kick off their three-game road trip against the Houston Rockets under the guidance of coach Ime Udoka. Despite facing adversity with the absence of Jrue Holiday (right elbow sprain) and Al Horford (rest), the Celtics showcased a dominant offensive performance in the first half, amassing 70 points. Although their 17-point lead dwindled to just three in the fourth quarter, they managed to hold on and leave the Toyota Center with a 116-107 triumph.

Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White emerged as pivotal figures in the absence of key veterans, contributing 32 and 21 points, respectively. The Rockets, also dealing with roster challenges, kept the game competitive thanks to notable performances from Dillon Brooks (25 points) and Alperen Sengun (24 points), with five Houston players reaching double-digit scoring.

Despite the victory, the Celtics continue to grapple with third-quarter struggles. Looking ahead, they will face the Dallas Mavericks on the second night of a back-to-back, aiming to build on this win. Here are three key takeaways from Sunday’s matchup.

Kristaps Porzingis continued his impressive performance by scoring 15 points in the first quarter for the second consecutive game. This notable contribution played a crucial role in Boston’s success during the game.

The Celtics’ big man quickly found his rhythm from beyond the 3-point line and maintained his hot streak throughout the entire game. He successfully converted six of his 11 attempts from long range, surpassing his earlier season-best of five made 3-pointers achieved on opening night against the New York Knicks.

Porzingis reached a first-half total of 20 points, marking the first time he accomplished this since March 28, a game in which he achieved the feat while playing for the Washington Wizards against the Celtics.

“The Unicorn,” as Kristaps Porzingis is commonly known, concluded the game with an impressive 32 points, shooting 11-20 from the field. This performance was just three points shy of his season-high and marked his fourth instance of scoring 30 or more points since joining the Celtics. Notably, he also made a significant impact on the defensive end by registering five blocks.

As reported by Taylor Snow on Celtics.com, this achievement places Porzingis in a rare category in NBA history. Only 10 times has a player recorded five blocks and made six 3-pointers in a single game. Remarkably, Porzingis joins former Celtic Raef LaFrentz as the only players to accomplish this feat twice.

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The Celtics required Kristaps Porzingis to take on a more significant role in the absence of Holiday and Horford, especially with stars Jayson Tatum (18 points) and Jaylen Brown (13 points) experiencing less productive nights. Porzingis rose to the occasion and delivered a standout performance.

Similar to the previous Friday night, Derrick White, alongside Porzingis, stood out as a key contributor for the Celtics.

White played a crucial role in supporting Porzingis in driving the offense, contributing 16 points in the first half on 7-of-12 shooting. Additionally, he actively participated in the defensive effort by adding two blocks to the block party.

Together, Porzingis and White accounted for seven of Boston’s 12 blocks, with Luke Kornet contributing three, and Sam Hauser and Oshae Brissett each adding one block.

Derrick White experienced a slowdown in offensive production during the second half, concluding the game with 21 points on 9-of-20 shooting, including a 3-of-8 performance from beyond the arc. Despite the dip in scoring, he maintained his impact on the boards, achieving a career-high 12 rebounds. Notably, this surpassed his previous career-best of seven rebounds.

This marked White’s third consecutive game with 20 or more points, further solidifying his case for inclusion in the All-Star conversation.

The trend of a sluggish third quarter, which has plagued Boston for most of the season, persisted on Sunday night. Despite entering halftime with a comfortable 15-point lead, the Celtics saw their advantage dwindle to just five points in the third quarter. Houston mounted several runs, including an 11-0 stretch where Boston went over four minutes without scoring.

The offensive struggles extended into the early part of the fourth quarter, but eventually, the Celtics managed to break out of their slump, making enough shots to secure a hard-fought victory. Notably, Boston’s record reflects a pattern, standing at 12-9 in games where they’ve lost the third quarter and an impressive 20-1 in games where they’ve emerged victorious in that frame.