Amen Thompson’s clutch floater with 0.7 seconds left lifted the Houston Rockets (31-14) to a thrilling 114-112 win over the Boston Celtics (32-15) on Monday night. The guard capped off his 33-point performance with the decisive basket, helping Houston secure its ninth victory in 11 games.
Dillon Brooks delivered a career-best shooting night, hitting 10-of-15 from beyond the arc en route to a team-high 36 points. His final three-pointer gave Houston a critical 108-106 edge with 1:39 remaining, keeping the Rockets ahead in a tightly contested game.
Jaylen Brown paced the Celtics with 28 points, while Jayson Tatum added 19 despite being held scoreless in the first half. Luke Kornet contributed an efficient 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting, and Kristaps Porzingis tallied 17 points and eight rebounds.
Thompson’s late-game heroics came after Boston tied the score with 5.3 seconds left on a layup by Tatum. Houston responded with an inbounds play that allowed Thompson to find space and convert a contested floater to seal the win. The Rockets overcame a sluggish start to the fourth quarter, where they trailed by 12 points.
The Celtics played shorthanded with Derrick White, Sam Hauser, and Al Horford sidelined due to injuries. Coach Joe Mazzulla rotated deeper into his bench, leading to significant contributions from Payton Pritchard, who scored 15 points while connecting on five three-pointers.
Tatum struggled early, missing all five of his first-half attempts, as the Celtics trailed by two at halftime. The All-NBA forward rebounded in the second half but fell short of his usual production. Meanwhile, Porzingis and Kornet anchored Boston’s interior scoring with efficient finishes near the rim.
The Rockets’ defense shined down the stretch, limiting Boston to just 23 points in the final quarter. Alperen Sengun was instrumental on both ends, recording nine rebounds and nine assists while helping neutralize Boston’s interior presence late in the game.
Jalen Green, Houston’s leading scorer this season, was limited to 12 points on 3-of-13 shooting but contributed six assists. Fred VanVleet chipped in seven points and seven assists, helping facilitate the Rockets’ offense despite struggling with his shot.
The win gives Houston a season series split with Boston, as the Celtics won their first meeting on Jan. 3. The victory also underscores Houston’s rise as a contender in the Western Conference, with their 31-14 record positioning them firmly in the playoff picture.
Boston, on the other hand, remains near the top of the Eastern Conference standings despite the loss. However, the Celtics will look to regroup as they face another tough stretch without key contributors.
