Boston deals struggling Rockets 16th straight loss 134-107

<p>HOUSTON &mdash; Jaylen Brown scored 24 points and Jayson Tatum added 23 as the Boston Celtics coasted to a 134-107 win over the struggling Houston Rockets on Sunday night. </p>
<p>It’s the 16th straight loss for Houston, which was playing without John Wall and several others because of injuries. The losing streak is the second-longest in franchise history behind a 17-game skid in 1968. </p>
<p>It’s the fifth win in six games for the Celtics, who overwhelmed a team playing with only one of its regular starters in Victor Oladipo. He led Houston with 26 points on a night the Rockets made 16 of 50 3-pointers. </p>
<p>The Rockets, who haven’t won since Feb. 4, have lost seven straight home games for the first time since 2006. </p>
<p>Boston was only up by four after one period, but pulled away by halftime. The Celtics had a 13-point lead early in the third quarter before using an 11-2 run, with nine points by Kemba Walker, to make it 79-57 with about 10 minutes left in the period.</p>
<p>A 12-3 spurt later in the third left the Celtics up 104-72 entering the fourth. Tatum stood out in that stretch, starting the run with a step-back shot before getting a steal and finishing on the other end with a <a href="https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1371277638476570626?s=20">nifty behind-the-back move</a>. He wrapped up the scoring in that quarter with a <a href="https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1371278550163070978?s=20">35-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer</a>. </p>
<p>Brown and Tatum didn’t play after that and Boston coach Brad Stevens cleared his bench with about nine minutes remaining and his team up 112-80. </p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Celtics: Robert Williams III had 16 points and 13 rebounds off the bench. … Walker finished with 16 points, five assists and six rebounds. … Tristan Thompson had 13 rebounds. </p>
<p>Rockets: Danuel House missed his fourth straight game with a bruised right knee. … Eric Gordon sat out for the second game in a row with a strained groin. … Wall missed a third straight game with a bruised left knee. … Rookie Kenyon Martin Jr. had a season-high 21 points. </p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Celtics: Host Utah on Tuesday night. </p>
<p>Rockets: Play the second of seven straight home games on Tuesday night when they host the Hawks. </p>
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