Celtics vs. Rockets Preview: Learning From Past Fourth-Quarter Failures

While hoping to learn from past failures of fourth-quarter execution, the Houston Rockets will attempt to fix their mistakes Monday night against the Boston Celtics.

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets (15-52) entered the fourth quarter Saturday night holding a 95-87 lead. But by the end of the final buzzer, the Rockets dropped their third consecutive game in a 119-111 loss to the Chicago Bulls inside the Toyota Center.

Coach Stephen Silas was pleased with the Rockets' effort, but youth and lack of poise led to another fourth-quarter collapse. 

Silas said the Rockets spent the first part of Sunday's practice watching the final six minutes. He emphasized how the smallest details can improve the Rockets' late-game execution ahead of Monday night's contest against the Boston Celtics (47-21).

"We have to continue to teach and use opportunities to grow and learn," Silas said. "What I told the group was, 'against a team like Boston, those details are not just the last six minutes of the game — it's throughout the whole game.' We have to be on it. We have a chance to see if it resonated."

Youth and inexperience robbed the Rockets from stealing an early-season victory against the Celtics on Dec. 27.

Houston played Boston tight until the 3:02 mark of the third quarter when Jaylen Brown converted a one-hand dunk to extend the Celtics' lead by 11. Brown's dunk accounted for two of the Celtics' 36 points during the period.  

Boston outscored Houston 34-21 in the fourth quarter, while the Rockets sustained a 126-102 loss inside TD Garden.

Rockets vs. Celtics Broadcast Information:

• Date: Monday, March. 13
• Time: 7:00 p.m.
• TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet
• Radio: 790 AM
• Live Stream: League Pass

Houston Rockets Injury Report:

• Alperen Sengun (left groin strain) PROBABLE

Boston Celtics Injury Report:

• Danilo Gallinari (left knee surgery) OUT
• Robert Williams III (left hamstring strain) OUT

Trying to defend another top-scoring team in the league:

The Celtics are arguably the best offensive team in the league. They currently rank third in scoring, averaging 117.9 points and fourth in offensive net rating (116.7). The Rockets are 2-11 against the league's top five scoring teams while giving up an average of 126.3 points in 13 games.

Can Jabari Smith Jr. continue his play vs. the Celtics?

Jabari Smith Jr. has been on a tear over the last five games. And following his performance against the Bulls, he became the fifth teenager in league history to average 17.6 points on .540/.450/.820 shooting splits, with 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals in a five-game stretch.

The matchup between Smith and Marcus Smart will make for an intriguing one-on-one matchup. Smith recently said he feels disrespected when an undersized guard tries to defend him. 

Slowing down Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum:

The Rockets gave up a combined 63 points to DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine in the loss to the Bulls. And 48 hours later, Houston will have a more difficult challenge trying to defend Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

The dynamic duo has each scored 30 points or more in the same game nine times this season. Over the last 30 years, the only pair of teammates to record more were Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, who registered 10 in 2000-01 and 12 in 2002-03.

During the Celtics' victory over the Rockets in December, Brown (39) and Tatum (38) scored a combined 77 points.

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You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24

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