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Derrick White scores 23 points as Celtics roll to 109-86 win over Rockets
HOUSTON (AP) Derrick White had 23 points and Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard added 20 each to lead the Boston Celtics to a 109-86 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
The Celtics led by 10 after three and scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter to push their advantage to 93-72. White, Kristaps Porzingis and Pritchard made 3s in that stretch to help the Celtics pull away for their third straight victory.
Boston was up by 21 points with about 4 1/2 minutes to go when coach Joe Mazzulla cleared the bench.
Porzingis added 11 points with five rebounds in his return after missing four games with a sprained left ankle.
Jalen Green had 27 points for the Rockets. They lost for the third time in four games.
Celtics: Boston had no trouble handling Houston despite playing without Jaylen Brown, who missed a second straight game with a shoulder strain. Sam Hauser, who had 15 points Thursday night filling in for Brown, didn't score Friday night.
Rockets: Houston started 38-year-old Jeff Green for the first time this season with news Friday that Jabari Smith Jr. could miss up to two months after breaking a bone in his hand during shootaround. Amen Thompson, the fourth pick in the 2023 draft, will fill in for him moving forward after finishing up a two-game suspension Friday night for a fight with Miami’s Tyler Herro last weekend.
Boston’s big run to open the fourth quarter and extend the lead to 21 points.
The Rockets made just 32 of 88 shots with Green going 10 of 21 and Cam Whitmore making just 4 of 17.
The Celtics visit Oklahoma City on Sunday, and the Rockets host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Kristaps Porzingis vs. Alperen Sengun (Derrick White gains possession) | ||
| 11:44 |  | Derrick White misses two point driving layup | ||
| 11:44 | | Jeff Green defensive rebound | ||
| 11:38 | | Jalen Green misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 11:35 | | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | ||
| 11:33 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point putback layup | 0-2 |
| 11:21 | | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point driving layup | 2-2 |
| 10:56 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 2-4 |
| 10:42 | | Jrue Holiday misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:41 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 10:38 | | Alperen Sengun turnover (bad pass) (Jrue Holiday steals) | ||
| 10:35 | | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jrue Holiday assists) | 4-4 |
| 10:22 | | +2 | Jeff Green makes two point turnaround jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 4-6 |
| 9:59 | | +3 | Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 7-6 |
| 9:45 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point driving floating jump shot | 7-8 |
| 9:32 | | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point turnaround bank jump shot | 9-8 |
| 9:07 | | Fred VanVleet misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 9:05 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 8:55 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point driving dunk | 9-10 |
| 8:39 | | Fred VanVleet personal foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 8:35 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses two point jump shot | ||
| 8:34 | | Dillon Brooks defensive rebound | ||
| 8:29 | | Kristaps Porzingis personal foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 8:22 | | Kristaps Porzingis shooting foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 8:22 | | +1 | Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-11 |
| 8:22 | | +1 | Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-12 |
| 8:04 | | Jeff Green personal foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 7:55 | | +3 | Derrick White makes three point pullup jump shot (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 12-12 |
| 7:36 | | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point jump shot (Jalen Green assists) | 12-15 |
| 7:29 | | Dillon Brooks personal foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 7:29 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:20 | | +2 | Luke Kornet makes two point cutting dunk (Jayson Tatum assists) | 14-15 |
| 7:08 | | Jalen Green misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:05 | | Derrick White defensive rebound | ||
| 6:57 | | +3 | Jrue Holiday makes three point jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists) | 17-15 |
| 6:42 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 6:41 | | Luke Kornet defensive rebound | ||
| 6:29 | | +3 | Jrue Holiday makes three point stepback jump shot | 20-15 |
| 6:06 | | Luke Kornet blocks Dillon Brooks's two point driving layup | ||
| 6:04 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 5:50 | | +2 | Luke Kornet makes two point cutting dunk (Jayson Tatum assists) | 22-15 |
| 5:31 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:28 | | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 5:21 | | Derrick White misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 5:20 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 5:07 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point stepback jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 22-17 |
| 4:49 | | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point pullup jump shot | 25-17 |
| 4:28 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point pullup jump shot | 25-19 |
| 4:16 | | +2 | Payton Pritchard makes two point driving reverse layup | 27-19 |
| 3:54 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point hook shot | ||
| 3:53 | | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 3:44 | | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point driving hook shot | 29-19 |
| 3:44 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:28 | | Payton Pritchard personal foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | ||
| 3:17 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:15 | | Steven Adams offensive rebound | ||
| 3:13 | | +2 | Steven Adams makes two point putback layup | 29-21 |
| 2:58 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:57 | | Luke Kornet offensive rebound | ||
| 2:52 | | +3 | Payton Pritchard makes three point jump shot (Luke Kornet assists) | 32-21 |
| 2:34 | | Steven Adams misses two point reverse layup | ||
| 2:34 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 2:32 | | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:28 | | Dillon Brooks offensive rebound | ||
| 2:25 | | Dillon Brooks misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 2:24 | | Steven Adams offensive rebound | ||
| 2:24 | | Steven Adams misses two point tip layup | ||
| 2:22 | | Steven Adams offensive rebound | ||
| 2:22 | | +2 | Steven Adams makes two point tip layup | 32-23 |
| 2:01 | | Luke Kornet misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 2:00 | | Celtics offensive rebound | ||
| 1:58 | | Payton Pritchard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:56 | | Rockets defensive rebound | ||
| 1:45 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point pullup jump shot | 32-26 |
| 1:19 | | +3 | Payton Pritchard makes three point stepback jump shot | 35-26 |
| 1:08 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:07 | | Jordan Walsh defensive rebound | ||
| 0:57 | | Jae'Sean Tate blocks Jayson Tatum's two point driving layup | ||
| 0:55 | | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | ||
| 0:44 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:42 | | Jae'Sean Tate offensive rebound | ||
| 0:35 | | +3 | Cam Whitmore makes three point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 35-29 |
| 0:29 | | +2 | Payton Pritchard makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 37-29 |
| 0:09 | | +2 | Fred VanVleet makes two point driving layup | 37-31 |
| 0:00 | | Jordan Walsh misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Celtics offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:42 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 37-33 |
| 11:23 | | Derrick White turnover (bad pass) (Jeff Green steals) | ||
| 11:18 | | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point running layup | 37-35 |
| 11:01 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:00 | | Jae'Sean Tate defensive rebound | ||
| 10:49 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:47 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 10:33 | | Jrue Holiday misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:31 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 10:20 | | Aaron Holiday misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 10:19 | | Payton Pritchard defensive rebound | ||
| 10:13 | | Jae'Sean Tate personal foul (Jrue Holiday draws the foul) | ||
| 10:05 | | +3 | Derrick White makes three point pullup jump shot | 40-35 |
| 9:36 | | Aaron Holiday misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:36 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 9:36 | | Rockets turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 9:19 | | Derrick White misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:16 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 9:11 | | Cam Whitmore misses two point running layup | ||
| 9:10 | | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 9:04 | | +2 | Payton Pritchard makes two point running reverse layup (Jrue Holiday assists) | 42-35 |
| 8:48 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:47 | | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 8:38 | | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists) | 45-35 |
| 8:20 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point driving layup | 45-37 |
| 8:04 | | +2 | Neemias Queta makes two point cutting dunk (Derrick White assists) | 47-37 |
| 7:39 | | Kristaps Porzingis blocks Alperen Sengun's two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:36 | | Celtics defensive rebound | ||
| 7:17 | | Neemias Queta misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 7:17 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 7:10 | | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point stepback jump shot | 47-40 |
| 6:57 | | Dillon Brooks personal foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | ||
| 6:57 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:46 | | Alperen Sengun personal foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | ||
| 6:38 | | Derrick White misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:36 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 6:21 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 47-43 |
| 6:09 | | +2 | Payton Pritchard makes two point driving layup | 49-43 |
| 6:09 | | Alperen Sengun defensive goaltending violation | ||
| 5:54 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point pullup jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 49-45 |
| 5:35 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:32 | | Derrick White offensive rebound | ||
| 5:26 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:25 | | Derrick White offensive rebound | ||
| 5:22 | | +3 | Derrick White makes three point jump shot | 52-45 |
| 5:20 | | Celtics delay of game violation | ||
| 5:10 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point pullup jump shot | 52-48 |
| 4:47 | | Derrick White misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:46 | | Aaron Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 4:41 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 4:40 | | Celtics defensive rebound | ||
| 4:22 | | Jalen Green shooting foul (Neemias Queta draws the foul) | ||
| 4:22 | | Neemias Queta misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 4:22 | | Celtics offensive rebound | ||
| 4:22 | | +1 | Neemias Queta makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 53-48 |
| 4:01 | | Dillon Brooks misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 3:59 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 3:50 | | +3 | Jeff Green makes three point jump shot (Cam Whitmore assists) | 53-51 |
| 3:50 | | Celtics 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:29 | | Jayson Tatum misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 3:28 | | Jayson Tatum offensive rebound | ||
| 3:28 | | Jayson Tatum misses two point tip layup | ||
| 3:27 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 3:21 | | Luke Kornet personal foul (Dillon Brooks draws the foul) | ||
| 3:16 | | Jalen Green misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 3:15 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 3:07 | | Jalen Green blocks Luke Kornet's two point layup | ||
| 3:05 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 3:00 | | Cam Whitmore misses two point running layup | ||
| 2:57 | | Luke Kornet defensive rebound | ||
| 2:53 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point running dunk (Payton Pritchard assists) | 55-51 |
| 2:33 | | Payton Pritchard blocks Jalen Green's two point driving layup | ||
| 2:31 | | Luke Kornet defensive rebound | ||
| 2:25 | | Jeff Green shooting foul (Luke Kornet draws the foul) | ||
| 2:25 | | Luke Kornet misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 2:25 | | Celtics offensive rebound | ||
| 2:25 |