Scouting report: Rockets at Celtics - Chron
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PHOTOS: Rockets vs. Celtics
The Rockets’ James Harden (13) and P.J. Tucker (17) blanket Celtics guard Jaylen Brown during Tuesday’s game at Toyota Center.
>>>See photos from the last meeting between the two teams ...
lessPhoto: Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff PhotographerPHOTOS: Rockets vs. Celtics
The Rockets’ James Harden (13) and P.J. Tucker (17) blanket Celtics guard Jaylen Brown during Tuesday’s game at Toyota Center.
>>>See photos from the last meeting
... more
PHOTOS: Rockets vs. Celtics
The Rockets’ James Harden (13) and P.J. Tucker (17) blanket Celtics guard Jaylen Brown during Tuesday’s game at Toyota Center.
>>>See photos from the last meeting between the two teams ...
lessPHOTOS: Rockets vs. Celtics
The Rockets’ James Harden (13) and P.J. Tucker (17) blanket Celtics guard Jaylen Brown during Tuesday’s game at Toyota Center.
>>>See photos from the last meeting
... moreRockets vs. Celtics
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday/TD Garden
TV/radio: ABC; 790-AM, 740-AM; Spanish: 850 AM/101.7 FM
So far: Rockets 39-20, Celtics
Lately: The Rockets have a five-game winning streak, all by double digits, and wins in 9 of 11 games. The Celtics have won four of five games since their loss in Houston, losing only by two against the Lakers in Los Angeles.
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Scouting the Rockets
The Rockets have won their past four games against the Celtics, including a 116-105 win in Toyota Center on Feb. 11 … The Rockets have ranked third in offensive rating, seventh in defensive rating in the past 10 games, first offensively (and effective field goal percentage) and sixth defensively in their five-game winning streak … They have forced the third-most turnovers in that stretch, but have the worst defensive rebounding percentage … Rockets guard James Harden, who has averaged 43 points on 42.3 percent 3-point shooting against the Celtics in the past two seasons, is averaging 35.2 points on 51.5 percent shooting in the Rockets’ five-game winning streak … Guard Russell Westbrook has averaged 34 points on 56.9 percent shooting in his past six games in the longest streak of consecutive games making at least half his shots in his career … Rivers and Harden are on pace to be the first teammates in NBA history to both average 25 points and seven assists … Guard Austin Rivers has made 45.2 percent of his 3-pointers in his past 16 games since returning from a thumb injury after making 30.3 percent in his first 38 games this season … Forward Robert Covington has blocked at least three shots in five-consecutive games, the longest streak for a Rockets player since 2005-06.
Scouting the Celtics
The Celtics are 22-5 at home with a seven-game winning streak in TD Garden … The Celtics are one of three teams, along with the Bucks and Lakers, in the top five in offensive and defensive rating. They allow the third-fewest points in the paint in the NBA … The Celtics have had six players average more than 15 points in the five games since playing the Rockets, though that includes All-Star guard Kemba Walker who played in just one of those games, scoring 19 points … In his past five games, since making just 5 of 15 shots and missing all seven 3-pointers against the Rockets, forward Jayson Tatum is averaging 35.4 points on 57.5 percent shooting, 54.5 percent on 3-pointers … Center Robert Williams, who has been out since Dec. 6 with a hip injury, is expected to return.
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Injuries
Rockets
Guard Eric Gordon (bruised right knee) is questionable.
Celtics
Guard Kemba Walker (sore left knee) is out. Center Robert Williams (left hip bone edema) is probable.
By the numbers
6 – 30-point games for Jayson Tatum in February, as many as he had in the first 2 ½ seasons of his career combined.
Looking ahead: Rockets at Knicks, Monday; Celtics vs. Nets, Tuesday.
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