The Boston Celtics saw their five-game winning streak snapped on Monday night, falling 109-93 to the Houston Rockets in a game defined by poor shooting and the antagonistic return of Marcus Smart. The Celtics shot just 38.6% from the field and couldn't contain their former guard, who fueled the Rockets' victory with timely plays and relentless energy. This loss on November 2, 2026, dropped Boston's recent form to 4 wins and 1 loss in their last five outings.
Boston's offense never found its rhythm. They struggled to convert open looks all night, finishing with a miserable field goal percentage. The Rockets, meanwhile, shot 40% from three-point range and capitalized on every Celtics mistake. Former Celtic Marcus Smart was at the heart of Houston's success, even though his stat line of eight points, four rebounds, and four assists doesn't tell the full story. His impact was psychological as much as physical.
Smart got under the skin of his former teammates from the opening tip. He successfully baited Jayson Tatum into a technical foul in the second quarter by urging a referee to call one. Then, in the third, Smart drew a charge on Tatum that gave the Celtics star his fourth personal foul. Seconds later, Tatum picked up his fifth foul on another offensive foul and had to sit. Payton Pritchard also fell for Smart's tactics, earning an offensive foul himself.
Smart's plan, as he later admitted, was to remind Boston what they were missing. "You always wanna do good against your former team," Smart told reporters postgame. "And show them that you still can go out there and do what you do, right?" His most damaging contribution came in the fourth quarter. After starting the game 0-for-7, Smart hit back-to-back three-pointers to extend Houston's lead to 90-79 with over eight minutes left. He celebrated the shots with a pointed gesture toward the Boston bench.
"Just a lot of pent-up, I guess you can call it emotions," Smart explained. "Plus, certain guys on the (Boston) bench was talking. Didn't know who." Rockets center Alperen Şengün summed up Smart's effect simply: "He woke up everybody's ass." The energy that once fueled Boston now powered the opponent.
The Celtics have little time to dwell on this performance. They face a quick turnaround with a major test against the Milwaukee Bucks at home on November 4, 2026. This concludes a tough stretch that saw them play the Magic, Bulls, Nets, and Knicks before this Rockets game.
Joe Mazzulla's team must rediscover its shooting touch and composure. The loss highlighted how a single disruptive force can compound existing problems like a cold shooting night. Beating elite Eastern Conference rivals like Milwaukee will require a much sharper, more focused effort on both ends of the floor. The Celtics' 4-1 record in their last five games, including wins over Orlando, Chicago twice, Brooklyn, and New York, shows their capability. They need to bounce back immediately.
