The Boston Celtics keep their road trip going with a visit to the Houston Rockets Monday night, and on paper it’s a complete mismatch. The second-place Celtics are 47-21 on the season and looking to make it three straight victories. Meanwhile last-place Houston has three wins since February 1. That means the Rockets are 3-14 since February 1, and the most recent pair of victories came against San Antonio, the team closest to Houston in the West.

Monday is game two of a five-game road swing for Boston, who kicked off their trip Saturday with a 134-125 win over Atlanta. Boston’s averaged 124.5 points over their last two outings, and Houston’s allowed 123 points per game over a three-game skid. But the game isn’t played on paper, and tip-off at the Toyota Center starts at 8 p.m. EDT with Boston a 13-point favourite and the total listed at 229 on the NBA odds.

Celtics vs. Rockets NBA Betting Odds

To little surprise, Boston is undefeated in their last five clashes with the Rockets. The impressive feat is the Celtics have covered in all five of those wins. Overall Boston is hot ATS too, covering in 10 of their last 15 overall and five of their last seven road games. Houston’s 3-8 ATS over their last 11.

Head-to-head, the under has connected in seven of the last eight Celtics–Rockets meetings. Boston defeated Houston 126-102 back on December 27, their only other meeting this year and a game that went under by a basket. Boston attempted 56 threes in the win, making 20.

Boston Celtics

Speaking of 20 three-pointers, that’s exactly the mark Boston hit in Saturday’s dub at Atlanta. Jayson Tatum led the way with five, but attempted 14. Tatum also had game-highs with 34 points and 15 rebounds. Sam Hauser was the hot hand off the bench, nailing four of his five three-point attempts. Hauser, Malcom Brodgon, and Blake Griffin were the only bench players to see the court against Atlanta and combined for 38 points on 16-of-23 shooting from the field.

The Celtics remain second in the NBA with an average of 15.9 made threes per game, which plays a big role in their offence being ranked fourth overall in scoring. The Celtics have scored at least 114 points in five of their last six appearances.

Houston Rockets

Scoring hasn’t been Houston’s issue as of late, it’s been defending. Over their last five games the Rockets have allowed at least 110 points, but are averaging nearly 120 a game thanks to two massive wins against San Antonio. The positive aspect is 2021 and 2022 first-round picks Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. have been heating up offensively.

Green is averaging nearly 22 points a game this month, and Smith Jr. has 50 points over his last two outings. Smith Jr.’s performances have led the Rockets in scoring in back-to-back games, both of which were double-doubles.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Celtics vs. Rockets?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Celtics Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.07
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.26
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.77
FG%	Robert Williams III 74.7
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.52
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.37

HOU

Points	Jalen Green 22.14
Assists	Kevin Porter Jr. 5.73
Rebounds	Alperen Sengun 9.04
FG%	Boban Marjanovic 68.3
Steals	Kevin Porter Jr. 1.39
Blocks	Jabari Smith Jr. 0.94

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 27.15
Assists	Jayson Tatum 5.25
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 10.5
FG%	Luke Kornet 87.5
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.25
Blocks	Al Horford 1.7

HOU

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Rockets Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 30.07
Assists	Marcus Smart 6.26
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.77
FG%	Robert Williams III 74.7
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.52
Blocks	Robert Williams III 1.37

HOU

Points	Jalen Green 22.14
Assists	Kevin Porter Jr. 5.73
Rebounds	Alperen Sengun 9.04
FG%	Boban Marjanovic 68.3
Steals	Kevin Porter Jr. 1.39
Blocks	Jabari Smith Jr. 0.94

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 27.15
Assists	Jayson Tatum 5.25
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 10.5
FG%	Luke Kornet 87.5
Steals	Marcus Smart 1.25
Blocks	Al Horford 1.7

HOU

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

Boston

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Prob Mon Forearm - 25 / 05 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Prob Fri Forearm - 17 / 05 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 06 / 05 / 23

Blake Griffin (PF)

Prob Sun Back - 05 / 05 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Ques Wed Chest - 02 / 05 / 23

Marcus Smart (PG)

Prob Sun Tailbone - 22 / 04 / 23

Al Horford (C)

Prob Sat Back - 08 / 04 / 23

Robert Williams III (C)

Prob Sat Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Derrick White (PG)

Prob Fri Ankle - 06 / 04 / 23

Malcolm Brogdon (SG)

Prob Sat Back - 06 / 04 / 23

Houston

Kevin Porter Jr. (SG)

Out Sun Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Ty Jerome (SG)

Prob Mon Illness - 07 / 04 / 23

Kenyon Martin Jr. (PF)

Prob Fri Undisclosed - 05 / 04 / 23

Kenyon Martin Jr. (PF)

Prob Fri Hip - 30 / 03 / 23

Frank Kaminsky (PF)

Ques Sun Migraine - 23 / 03 / 23

Jae'Sean Tate (SF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 21 / 03 / 23

Jae'Sean Tate (SF)

Out Mon Rest - 20 / 03 / 23

Kevin Porter Jr. (SG)

Prob Sat Thigh - 08 / 03 / 23

Jae'Sean Tate (SF)

Out Sat Ankle - 03 / 03 / 23

TyTy Washington Jr. (PG)

Ques Sat Migraine - 01 / 03 / 23

Injuries

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Prob Mon	Forearm - 25 / 05 / 23	2-1	0-3	+ -
Brogdon is nursing a partially torn tendon in his right forearm, but it is anticipated that he will be active versus the Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Prob Fri	Forearm - 17 / 05 / 23	3-4	3-4	+ -
Brogdon is managing a right forearm strain, but it is likely that he will take on the Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 06 / 05 / 23	5-6	6-5	+ -
Smart is hobbled by a left ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will take on the 76ers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Blake Griffin (PF)	Prob Sun	Back - 05 / 05 / 23	6-6	6-6	+ -
Griffin is tending to lower-back pain, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the 76ers.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Ques Wed	Chest - 02 / 05 / 23	6-7	7-6	+ -
Smart is nursing a chest contusion, leaving his status against the 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals up in the air.
Marcus Smart (PG)	Prob Sun	Tailbone - 22 / 04 / 23	8-9	11-6	+ -
Smart is hindered by a tailbone contusion, but it is projected that he will take on the Hawks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Al Horford (C)	Prob Sat	Back - 08 / 04 / 23	12-9	13-8	+ -
Horford is nursing lower back stiffness, but it is projected that he will be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Hawks.
Robert Williams III (C)	Prob Sat	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	12-9	13-8	+ -
Williams is managing left knee soreness, but it is not expected to affect his status for the Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round with the Hawks.
Derrick White (PG)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 06 / 04 / 23	13-9	13-9	+ -
White has a left ankle sprain, but it is not expected to affect his availability for Friday's tilt with the Raptors.
Malcolm Brogdon (SG)	Prob Sat	Back - 06 / 04 / 23	13-9	13-9	+ -
Brogdon is hampered by lower-back soreness, but it is likely that he will bounce back in time to face the Hawks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.

Houston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kevin Porter Jr. (SG)	Out Sun	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	0-1	0-1	+ -
Porter is nursing right knee soreness, and he will not be available for Sunday's clash with the Wizards.
Ty Jerome (SG)	Prob Mon	Illness - 07 / 04 / 23	1-1	0-2	+ -
Jerome is nursing an illness, but it is anticipated that he will play against the Kings in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round.
Kenyon Martin Jr. (PF)	Prob Fri	Undisclosed - 05 / 04 / 23	1-1	0-2	+ -
Martin Jr. was forced from the last contest with an undefined issue, but it is anticipated that he will take part in Friday's clash versus the Hornets.
Kenyon Martin Jr. (PF)	Prob Fri	Hip - 30 / 03 / 23	2-2	3-2	+ -
Martin Jr. has a strained left hip flexor, but it is not expected to impact his status for Friday's contest versus the Pistons.
Frank Kaminsky (PF)	Ques Sun	Migraine - 23 / 03 / 23	3-5	6-3	+ -
Kaminsky was absent from the last match due to a migraine, leaving his availability for Sunday's clash against the Cavaliers up in the air.
Jae'Sean Tate (SF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 21 / 03 / 23	3-6	6-4	+ -
Tate is out of action due to left knee soreness, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Jae'Sean Tate (SF)	Out Mon	Rest - 20 / 03 / 23	3-7	6-5	+ -
Tate will not be active for Monday's battle with the Warriors as he will receive a day of rest.
Kevin Porter Jr. (SG)	Prob Sat	Thigh - 08 / 03 / 23	8-8	9-9	+ -
Porter was absent from the previous game due to a thigh contusion, but it it anticipated that he will face off with the Bulls on Saturday.
Jae'Sean Tate (SF)	Out Sat	Ankle - 03 / 03 / 23	9-9	10-10	+ -
Tate will not dress for Saturday's battle with the Spurs as he will be given a day of rest.
TyTy Washington Jr. (PG)	Ques Sat	Migraine - 01 / 03 / 23	9-11	12-10	+ -
Washington exited the previous match due to a migraine, and it remains to be seen whether this will impact his status Saturday against the Spurs.