Boston Celtics Support Amir Johnson In Win Over Houston Rockets

The Boston Celtics fought hard to defeat the Houston Rockets 11-95 at the latter’s home stadium, the Toyota Center, on Monday night. This was the Celtics’ sixth win of the season, and the seventh loss (fifth home loss) for the Rockets. Celtics forward Amir Johnson was knocked over the baseline early in the third quarter. Rockets forward Terrence Jones attempted to retrieve the ball after knocking down Johnson, and spent a lot of time straddling him. A scrum followed, somebody grabbed Jones’ leg, and a technical foul was called on Jones. Fellow Rocket James Harden and the Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas were also penalized, although Thomas claimed he had no idea why he picked up a T.

“I just went to go protect my teammate,” Thomas said. “It was very disrespectful to go stand over somebody. I don’t know how me and Harden got one. We wasn’t even talking. We’re pretty good friends, but I don’t know. Who knows? We’ll see what happens.”

The Celtics were able to score eight unanswered points, followed by 15 unanswered points in the last 3:24 of the third quarter, which then turned into a 25-2 run in the first 2:43 of the fourth quarter.

Houston coach Kevin McHale expressed frustration with his team’s lackluster defense. When asked about James Harden and newcomer Ty Lawson, McHale said, “They’ve gotta defend. It ain’t just Ty and James. You name a bunch of other people. They’re not doing it. But we’re not defending. We’re getting beat. And believe me, they weren’t going at just one guy. It was everybody got their fair share of that.”

The Celtics will play the Dallas Mavericks at home on Wednesday night, while the Rockets will face the Portland Trail Blazers at home on Wednesday.

PHOTO: BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 11: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers blocks a shot by Amir Johnson #90 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter at TD Garden on November 11, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)