James Harden, Russell Westbrook Lead Rockets to Win vs. Gordon Hayward, Celtics

The Houston Rockets did something no team has been able to do since Jan. 26.

Beat the Boston Celtics.

Houston snapped a two-game losing streak with a 116-105 victory over the Celtics on Tuesday at Toyota Center in the first of two matchups this season. James Harden and Russell Westbrook led the way, helping their team improve to 34-20 on the season.

As for the Celtics, they are still an impressive 37-16 even though their seven-game winning streak came to an end.

Notable Player Stats

• HOU G James Harden: 42 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and six turnovers
• HOU G Russell Westbrook: 36 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals
• BOS F Gordon Hayward: 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists
• BOS G Jaylen Brown: 19 points and three rebounds
• BOS F Jayson Tatum: 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals

Rockets' 2 Stars Take Over in Back-and-Forth Game

Houston was without Eric Gordon because of a leg injury, which put even more pressure on Harden and Westbrook to carry the offense.

Gordon is the team's third-leading scorer and often tasked with taking advantage of the spacing created by the immense defensive attention the two guards draw with his ability to shoot the three-pointer. While the small-ball lineups Houston has unleashed since trading Clint Capela mean anyone on the floor can hit from deep, the majority of the offense has come from the two stars.

Westbrook battled with Marcus Smart for extended stretches, using his overwhelming athleticism to attack the basket and draw contact. He also took charge of the rebounding without a natural big man, often parlaying the boards into attacks on the other end.

Harden had to be more cautious driving the lane after he picked up his fifth foul with more than seven minutes remaining, but Westbrook had no problem filling that role. That was especially the case when Smart was on the bench in the middle of the fourth quarter and Westbrook barreled into the lane possession after possession.

That was key after Harden impressed with early shooting and caught fire in the third quarter on his way to seven triples and his patented double-digit points from the free-throw line (17-of-18).

No. 13 also drew multiple fouls from three-point range as the Rockets pulled away in the fourth quarter.

There are still some concerns with Houston's style of play as there are stretches during which the entire team is standing around while Harden and Westbrook take turns dribbling and drawing contact, and the pressure will be squarely on their shoulders come playoff time. 

Still, there aren't many teams with two players who can take over at a moment's notice the way Harden and Westbrook can. They were up to the task Tuesday against a fellow playoff team and will be firmly under the spotlight come April and May.

Turnovers, Untimely Shooting Cost Celtics Their Winning Streak

There was plenty to like about Boston's approach Tuesday.

It battled on the road and built a halftime lead before the Rockets eventually took over down the stretch. All five starters scored in double figures, and Gordon Hayward flashed his potential as someone who can provide critical secondary scoring for the trio of Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

However, the Celtics needed someone to keep pace with the Harden and Westbrook tandem, and Walker and Tatum were unable to answer the call from the perimeter.

They combined to shoot an ugly 1-of-13 from three-point range, undercutting any comeback attempts in the second half.

What's more, Boston forced the issue far too many times trying to close the gap and finished with 18 turnovers. That is not the formula to beat a Western Conference contender, especially on the road.

Brad Stevens' team will surely take seven wins in an eight-game stretch at any point in the season, but the turnovers and poor shooting from its primary playmakers were too much to overcome in this one.

What's Next?

Both teams are in action Thursday when the Celtics host the Los Angeles Clippers and the Rockets are at the Golden State Warriors.