Celtics

Brown scored 14 of his 39 points in the third quarter, pouring it on after he was knocked to the parquet by a flagrant foul that sparked the Boston Celtics ...

It's the first game Mazzulla has missed since assuming the interim head coach position this season. He has been successful thus far in the role, leading the C's ...

He has been successful thus far in the role, leading the C's to a league-best 24-10 record. His assistant, Damon Stoudamire, will coach the team in his absence. [Forsberg: How a wild 2022 shaped the Celtics for whatever comes next](https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/how-wild-2022-shaped-boston-celtics-whatever-comes-next?b)

The Celtics' stars shined on Tuesday night in TD Garden, as Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combined for 77 points in a 126-102 win over the Houston Rockets.

That is still a decision they could eventually make. However, they do still have suspended coach Ime Udoka under contract for next season and beyond. He was ...

Udoka led the Celtics to the NBA Finals with the league's best defense. Mazzulla has led the Celtics to the league's best record with its No. Ultimately, the Celtics are in a relatively enviable position. They may also be continuing to investigate the incident that got Udoka suspended. More simply, this means that the Celtics are not ready to make Mazzulla their full-time head coach. Mazzulla will coach the rest of this season no matter what, according to Himmelsbach.

Boston turning stops into above-the-rim finishes and a possession as good as any the home team had all night headline the top five plays from Tuesday's.

Watching him from above the nail, Tatum is in a perfect position for the interception, but he can't secure the ball. Bucks: Stellar Two-Way Performance and Tatum's Take Over Propel Boston to Christmas Victory](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/heres-what-stood-out-in-celtics-win-vs-bucks-stellar-two-way-performance-and-tatums-take-over-propel-boston-to-christmas-victory) [Brad Stevens Shares His Early Evaluation of Joe Mazzulla](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/brad-stevens-shares-his-early-evaluation-of-joe-mazzulla) to fall for the fake, then drops his shoulders, sinks his hips, and blows by him for a thunderous left-handed slam. With the Timelord behind him, perhaps the battle is already lost, but not burrowing into him gives Green no chance to stop this alley-oop from happening. picks up his dribble, then nonchalantly delivers a telegraphed pass toward Martin. misses the layup.

The Celtics extended their winning streak to three games Tuesday, but had to do so without their interim head coach.

“Damon’s one of my favorite people in the organization,” Jaylen Brown said, per MassLive’s Souichi Terada. “So, walking out to the floor dang near. “I found out five minutes before game time,” Stoudamire told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin after the game, per the network’s postgame coverage.

Robert Williams III is still working his way back from offseason knee surgery, but early signs have the Celtics optimistic.

16](https://nesn.com/2022/12/celtics-robert-williams-reportedly-plans-to-make-season-debut-vs-magic/), Williams has come off the bench for the Celtics as he looks to return to form. Celtics interim head coach Joe [Mazzulla was asked](https://twitter.com/NBCSCeltics/status/1607877782297534467?s=20&t=jD5qr8NPwqb-k75jqG2WrQ) what Boston’s plan would be as it presumably worked Williams back into the starting lineup on Tuesday. After initially being listed as questionable, Williams will be active against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday at TD Garden.

The Rockets have ruled out Darius Days, Eric Gordon, Trevor Hudgins and Jae'Sean Tate. Meanwhile, the Celtics will be without Danilo Gallinari. Payton Pritchard ...

As for the Celtics, they are coming off a 139-118 win over the Milwaukee Bucks (at home) on Christmas. However, they are coming off a 133-118 win (at home) over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. [Houston Rockets](https://www.si.com/nba/team/houston-rockets) and [Boston Celtics](https://www.si.com/nba/team/boston-celtics) are facing off in Massachusetts.

By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer. BOSTON — Acting interim Boston Celtics coach Damon Stoudamire had the perfect plan for his debut in the top job.

"It meant a lot," said Stephen Silas, who wasn't on the court at the time but had been sent a copy. The Celtics All-Star went to the ground, and Porter apologetically came over to check on him. But in a lot of ways that's better," said Stoudamire, whose mother was in town from Las Vegas for Christmas and happened to be at the game. "I'm pretty sure I'm going to check my phone and there's going to be a lot of people saying 'Why didn't you tell me?' Well, I didn't know." "It's always a little easier when you've got JT and JB," Stoudamire said after Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 77 points to lead the Celtics to a 126-102 victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night. "Like, 'Jaylen, what the hell are you doing?' Smack in the face, then proceed to score the ball."

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined to score 77 points, giving the Celtics their third straight win and Damon Stoudamire his first NBA victory.

Jayson Tatum was the only other Celtic to make more than one field goal in the frame while the rest of Brown’s teammates combined to shoot just 1-of-9 from the field and 0-of-6 from 3-point range against one of the worst defenses in the NBA. However, it has become a far more frequent occurrence this year amid Boston’s terrific offensive chemistry and that shown yet again on Tuesday night as the duo passed the 30-point mark in the same game early in the fourth quarter, helping put away the Rockets with a big second half. The duo erupted for 77 of Boston’s 126 points, helping Boston pull away in the second half for a comfortable 126-102 win over the Houston Rockets.

Jaylen Brown initiated the run at the end of the third by scoring the first four points. Grant Williams, meanwhile, might've played the key role of the spurt, ...

Brown notched a game-high 39 points against the Rockets while canning 14 of his 26 shots from the field. Jaylen Brown initiated the run at the end of the third by scoring the first four points. In one fell slam, Tatum brought the fans onto their feet while erasing Houston’s chances of a win. Now let’s not pretend like Brown didn’t contribute anything else, because he certainly did. It then opened up the final period on a 9-3 run to pull ahead by 17, and the C’s never looked back from there. His scoring was about all Boston needed.

Jayson Tatum leads Boston into a matchup with Los Angeles averaging 31.1 points per game.

Paul George led the Clippers with 26 points, and Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 21 points. The Clippers won 113-93 in the last matchup on Dec. Los Angeles is third in the NBA allowing just 108.6 points while holding opponents to 45.4% shooting. The teams square off for the second time this season. George is averaging 12.9 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 45.0% over the last 10 games for Los Angeles. John Wall is averaging 12 points and 5.4 assists for the Clippers. LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 5-5, averaging 114.6 points, 47.0 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Brown is averaging 26.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists over the past 10 games for Boston. TOP PERFORMERS: Tatum is scoring 31.1 points per game with 8.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Celtics. Tatum and the Celtics host the Clippers The Clippers are 10-8 on the road. He's fifth in the league averaging 31.1 points per game.

Jayson Tatum had 38 points and eight rebounds, and Robert Williams III grabbed 15 rebounds as Boston won its third game in a row.

The Celtics observed a moment of silence for Paul Silas, a former Boston player and the father of Rockets coach Stephen Silas, who died this month at the age of 79. Interim Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla missed the game because of eye irritation and was replaced on the bench by assistant Damon Stoudamire. The Celtics All-Star went to the ground, and Porter apologetically came over to check on him.

Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla missed Tuesday night's game because of eye irritation and was replaced on the bench by assistant Damon Stoudamire.

Mazzulla handled his interview on the pregame show but was clearly uncomfortable. But in a lot of ways that's better,'' said Stoudamire, whose mother was in town from Las Vegas for Christmas and happened to be at the game. "I'm pretty sure I'm going to check my phone and there's going to be a lot of people saying 'Why didn't you tell me?' Well, I didn't know."

Interim head coach Joe Mazzulla was out because of an eye irritation, and Stoudamire was thrust in for his full game as an acting NBA head coach. As a staff, ...

The Celtics led by just five when Brown took over and scored eight points in 39 seconds to force a Houston timeout. Grant Williams hit back-to-back 3s, Robert Williams flushed a dunk at the shot clock buzzer and suddenly the Celtics led by 11 heading into the fourth. Without Mazzulla, the Celtics didn’t flinch on the principles that have pushed them to the best record in the NBA. A young and energetic Rockets squad – even on the second game of their back to back – was going toe to toe with them. Behind a second-half surge fueled by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the Celtics figured it out when it mattered. The Celtics, once reeling on this homestand, have now won three in a row.

Jaylen Brown put up a season-high 39 points in the Celtics' win over the Rockets.

“I think offense is better just to start the season compared to last year,” Brown said. Brown went on to score 12 points in the third quarter after the flagrant. Both stars are entering into their prime at the perfect time as the Celtics are looking to get back to the NBA Finals. That extra juice was all Brown needed as he put up a season-high 39 points in [the Celtics’ 126-102 win over the Rockets](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/12/four-takeaways-as-celtics-beat-rockets-126-102-giving-damon-stoudamire-win-as-acting-head-coach.html) on Tuesday. There was also another added element as Jayson Tatum put up 38 points in another impressive night for the Celtics’ star duo. [While Porter got hit with the flagrant-1 foul](https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=381&GameID=0022200507&Season=2022-23&flag=1&title=Porter%20Jr.%20FLAGRANT.FOUL.TYPE1%20(P2.T3)%20(G.Petraitis)), it lit a fire under Brown for the rest of the game.

Joe Mazzulla talked to Rob Williams about coming off the bench prior to his return and Williams is open to it: "I'm a team player. If we're rolling with ...

If we’re rolling with something, I feel like we’re supposed to keep rolling with it.” With parts of Boston’s second unit struggling in recent weeks and keeping Al Horford’s minutes down looking like a priority, keeping 48 minutes at center between Horford and Williams may be a promising path for Boston this year. “This offense is a lot quicker, a lot more freedom,” Williams said. “Um, are we going to do that?” Mazzulla said of the starting question. “I just think it depends on what’s best for our team at the time. That patience is starting to pay plenty of dividends on the court as the big man rounds into form.

Jaylen Brown called Damon Stoudamire one of his favorite people in the Celtics organization: "It was fun to go out there and get a win for him."

He played in the league or a long time, so what he knows what it’s like to be on a road trip, he knows what it’s like to be on a back to back, he knows what it’s like to be in a good stretch of winning games and be in a slump. I think for somebody who’s played in the league, I think he played for 13 or 14 years, played at a high level and he just keeps everything balanced, keeps everything in perspective. For him not to be prepared and get us organized, try to some good sets, I thought he did a good job. It was kind of like when somebody’s out on the team. We got a coaching staff that helps each other out and the team. “I guess I need to pay attention a little bit more during film, because I did not notice something was wrong with him.

Eddie Bird started his high school sports career in the long shadow of his older brother Larry, the Boston legend.

The Celtics are well-equipped to handle head coach changes at this point. After beating the Rockets, Jayson Tatum outlined how Boston's assistant coaches ...

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket against the Houston Rockets during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec.

The love that they showed him with the pins and the moment of silence ... That left the score at the end of three 92-81, Boston. “It meant a lot," said Stephen Silas, who wasn't on the court at the time but had been sent a copy. But in a lot of ways that's better,” said Stoudamire, whose mother was in town from Las Vegas for Christmas and happened to be at the game. The Celtics All-Star went to the ground, and Porter apologetically came over to check on him. “Like, ‘Jaylen, what the hell are you doing?’ Smack in the face, then proceed to score the ball.”

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combined for 77 points and Damon Stoudamire coached as the Celtics beat the Rockets on Tuesday.

“It was really just a special moment and thoughtful, because they didn’t have to do any of this. “I didn’t see it, but they sent it to me before so I was able to see it on my phone before I got here, but that’s just a classy, classy, classy act. Silas won a pair of titles with the Celtics, and his son Stephen is the Rockets’ head coach. The Rockets have a lot of young talent — Jalen Green in particular has a chance to be really special — but they have a long way to go. worked and pushed Brown away from the screen, only to watch Williams switch the screen and catch a lob in front of a half-hearted Alperen Sengun. The love they showed him with the pins and the moment of silence right after he passed … He isn’t a high-flyer, but he knows how to finish in style (just ask Giannis Antetokounmpo). Brown poured in 15 points in the first quarter and 14 in the third, while Tatum dropped 12 in the fourth as the Celtics pulled away. The team is playing at a higher level. “I think offense is better just to start the season compared to last year,” Tatum said. The Celtics were happy to get Stoudamire his first NBA victory as a head coach. So, for me, it was just a matter of going out there and truly not messing it up.”

As a part of that script, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are settling into a groove somewhat akin to a boxing match. Brown does the heavy lifting early with a ...

Finally, it’s important the Celtics get this one, because they won’t see much of Boston to open the new year. They close out the long homestand with a chance to finish on the right side at 4-3 when they host the LA Clippers on Thursday. But executing a gameplan to eliminate one part of an opponent’s offense often has a carryover to the rest of the offense. Boston went 3-for-3 on ATO sets in this one, which is enough to let Stoudamire call the looks for at least the next couple of games! Then he uses his handle to get to the paint, before absorbing the contact and swooping for the and-1: And down the stretch, Porter and Green both seemed to run out of gas, as Boston ran away with the game. Because the Rockets defense collapses, Tatum makes the smart kickout to Al Horford to beat the buzzer: This is a nice hesitation dribble to blow by the Rockets for the lefty hammer: As the game went along, it became obvious that Boston’s defensive gameplan was to chase the Rockets off the arc as much as possible. With the Rockets hanging around, Brown took over and pushed the Celtics to a double-digit lead. There are times when Tatum catches the ball, looks ahead and just decides he’s getting all the way to the cup. They play it close for the better part of three quarters, and then they explode and run away late.

The Celtics are well-equipped to handle head coach changes at this point. After beating the Rockets, Jayson Tatum outlined how Boston's assistant coaches ...

With Brogdon's immediate buy-in, the Celtics had a roster and a coaching staff that was in lock-step both before and after Udoka's suspension. [Ime Udoka's](https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/ime-udoka?b) shocking suspension due to a violation of team policies back in September. Through wins and losses, getting to the (NBA) Finals and losing, we're bonded through that." "Everybody was on the same page coming back this year of what we were trying to accomplish," Tatum said. "Last year, new coaching staff, some new players and us coming together and turning the season around and getting to the Finals -- you have to be a close group to do that. That change was easier to deal with than Udoka's suspension, which rattled the team just before the offseason.