The Houston Rockets travel to TD Garden on Saturday, facing the Boston Celtics with major absences in their lineup. Dorian Finney-Smith remains out after left ankle surgery, and Fred VanVleet is sidelined following right knee ACL repair.
Despite the injuries, Kevin Durant leads the Rockets, averaging 27.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. Alperen Sengun continues to anchor the frontcourt with 23.8 points and 8 rebounds, while Jabari Smith Jr. contributes 15.8 points per outing. Tari Eason and Amen Thompson are expected to play larger roles in the rotation.
The Celtics face their own injury concerns. Jayson Tatum remains out after right Achilles surgery, while Derrick White is listed as probable with bilateral neck stiffness. Payton Pritchard is also probable with a left ankle sprain, which could affect Boston’s backcourt depth.
Jaylen Brown remains the focal point for Boston, averaging 27.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Anfernee Simons provides scoring support with 15.5 points per game, and Payton Pritchard adds 14.7 points along with 5.8 assists. The Celtics will rely on their healthy core to compensate for Tatum’s absence.
The Rockets-Celtics matchup tips off at 8:00 PM ET. Boston aims to bounce back after a 3-3 start, while Houston looks to maintain momentum at 2-2.
