Amen Thompson and the Houston Rockets have been on a tear since the start of the new year.
The Boston Celtics learned the hard way on Monday. The Celtics and Rockets battled in a hard-fought game at Boston’s TD Garden. In the end, Thompson sunk the Celtics with a last-second bucket to secure a 114-112 Rockets win.
With the win, the Rockets have now beat the East’s top two teams on the road in consecutive games after beating the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Saturday. Thompson led the way in both wins to punctuate a breakout stretch since moving into Houston’s starting lineup.
Thompson dagger secures win after wild final few seconds
Thompson’s game-winning bucket on Monday capped a frantic final few seconds that saw the Rockets respond to multiple game-tying scores by the Celtics.
With the Rockets leading 110-108 with 11.1 seconds remaining, Jaylen Brown sank a pair of free throws after getting fouled. Alperen Şengün countered with a dunk on the other end to retake the lead for Houston, setting up Jayson Tatum for an answer on the other end.
Tatum took a pass from Kristaps Porziņģis in a half-court set and drove past Thompson for a game-tying layup with 5.3 seconds remaining, sending TD Garden into a frenzy.
But Thompson had the last laugh.
The Rockets called timeout to advance the ball to the frontcourt. Thompson took an inbounds pass from Fred VanVleet and found himself covered by Brown at the top of the key. He drove into the lane, then stutter-stepped to lose Brown before pulling up for a floater.
The ball dropped through the net with 0.7 seconds remaining to secure the Rockets lead.
Payton Pritchard’s desperation heave in response missed the mark, and the Rockets secured the upset in Boston.
Another big game from Thompson
Thompson’s game-winner capped a big night from the second-year forward, who’s been on a tear since moving into the starting lineup on Jan. 5. He finished Monday with a career-high 33 points, 10 rebounds and four assists while shooting 13 of 19 from the field.
In 10 games since moving into the starting lineup full time, Thompson’s averaged 19.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game. His big game Monday followed up a 23-point, 14-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in Saturday’s 135-131 win over the Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers in Cleveland.
After Monday’s win, he was all smiles alongside teammate Dillon Brooks, who scored 36 against the Celtics.
Warning: NSFW language in video below
“That’s my first game-winner,” Thompson said. “I feel like Kobe.”
With the win, the Rockets improved to 31-14 to remain in second place in the Western Conference behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (37-8). They’re 8-2 in their last 10 games with Thompson in the starting lineup and have won nine of their last 11 games overall.
