The Boston Celtics saw their five-game win streak end with a 109-93 road loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday, November 2, 2026. Playing the second night of a back-to-back, the Celtics kept it close early but ran out of gas against a full-strength Rockets squad. Alperen Sengun dominated inside for a game-high 26 points, while Jayson Tatum led Boston with 19 points. The result moves the Celtics to a 4-1 record in their last five games, with their overall season mark now at 5-2.
The Celtics started a unique lineup with rookies Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez alongside Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta. Paul George was rested after the previous night's win in Orlando. Houston's starters, featuring Kevin Durant and Fred VanVleet, jumped out to an early lead. Boston's shooting was a problem from the start, going just 1-for-9 from three-point range in the opening minutes. They finished the half shooting 42% from the field and 7-of-22 from deep.
Luka Garza provided a huge spark off the bench, hitting three triples in the first half to help Boston tie the game at 29-29 after one quarter. But the Rockets pulled away in the second period, outscoring the Celtics by seven points. Mitchell Robinson left briefly with a thumb sprain but returned with his hand taped. Alperen Sengun was efficient, scoring 12 first-half points on 6-of-8 shooting, mostly in the paint.
Fatigue from the back-to-back and poor three-point shooting were major factors. After missing 32 of 44 attempts from deep in Orlando the night before, the Celtics couldn't find a consistent rhythm in Houston. They also committed six first-half turnovers. The Rockets' size and physicality, led by Sengun, controlled the paint. Boston tried to counter by starting both Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson together in the third quarter.
That move initially worked. Queta scored seven straight points to open the half, including a corner three. But Houston's offense, paced by Sengun and supported by Durant's mid-range game, was too much. The Celtics' bench production beyond Garza was limited. Payton Pritchard was scoreless for 14 minutes before getting to the foul line. The defensive energy waned as the game progressed, allowing Houston to secure the comfortable 109-93 victory.
The schedule doesn't get easier. The Celtics must quickly regroup for a marquee matchup at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, November 4. That game is a major early-season test in the Eastern Conference.
Despite the loss, the team's recent form is strong. Their last five results show a 4-1 run: a win over the Orlando Magic (108-97) on November 1, preceded by victories against the Chicago Bulls (125-111 on October 30), the Brooklyn Nets (125-124 on October 27), and another win over Chicago (134-99 on October 26). The focus now shifts to defending home court and getting back on track before the Bucks come to town.
