The Boston Celtics saw their five-game win streak come to a sudden halt on Monday night. Houston Rockets players held the line to win 109-93 at the Toyota Center. This loss marks the second defeat of the season for the team. The Rockets, who started the year with six wins, proved too tough for a tired Boston squad. According to CelticsBlog, Houston proved a difficult challenge for the Celtics, bringing their winning streak to a halt.
Payton Pritchard had a rough night and the starters ran out of gas late in the game. According to Yahoo Sports, the Celtics’ former fan favorite helped expose a troubling issue in the loss. That fan favorite was Marcus Smart, who now wears a Rockets jersey.
Smart Plays the Villain
It was hard to watch Marcus Smart play against his old team with such intensity. He embraced the role of the villain to help Houston secure the victory. Smart explained his mindset after the game with a simple truth. Per reports, Marcus Smart explained his viral middle-finger celebration in the win over the Celtics. He did not hold back on the court, using old wounds as fuel.
The Rockets signed Smart specifically to boost their defense this off-season. His return to Boston brought a new energy that the Celtics could not match. The Rockets used his presence to disrupt Boston’s flow and take control of the game.
Shooting Woes and Injury News
Boston cannot afford to miss shots when they face a team like Houston. The Celtics’ shooting woes got the best of them on Monday night. CelticsBlog reports that Marcus Smart and the team’s shooting struggles ultimately defeated the Celtics. The team struggled to convert open looks and failed to build any momentum. This issue needs to be fixed before the next game against Milwaukee.
Injury concerns also linger as the team heads home. Illness has kept Devin Carter on the injury report following his absence from the last three preseason contests. He was diagnosed with mononucleosis and has no set timetable for a return yet. The Celtics will host the Milwaukee Bucks next, but they must address these health issues first. A short-handed roster cannot handle back-to-back games without key players like Carter.
The road ahead looks difficult for Boston. They face a long trip that includes stops in Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Toronto. The team must find a way to stop the bleeding after this loss. Jayson Tatum earned the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award for his past efforts, but the team needs more help. The Celtics will need to tighten their defense and improve their shooting to get back on track.
