The Rockets (3-2) won their third straight game with Saturday’s 128-101 rout in Boston (box score), and it was their best defensive performance of the 2025-26 season to date.

Houston entered with the NBA’s No. 1 offense and No. 19 defense, but Saturday’s strong showing brought back memories of the group that finished top five in defense last season.

The Rockets held the Celtics (3-4) to just 72 points through the first three quarters, and that allowed Houston’s high-powered offense to build a massive buffer. Four blocked shots by Jabari Smith Jr., all in those opening three quarters, set the tone.

The Celtics lead the NBA in average 3-point attempts per game and made 21 treys in Wednesday’s emphatic win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. But against the Rockets, when the game was competitive, Houston held Boston to just 10-of-30 from 3-point range (33.3%) over the first three quarters.

Strong perimeter defense from the likes of Josh Okogie, Amen Thompson, and Tari Eason played a significant role in limiting Boston’s 3-point attack, as did rim protection from the likes of Smith and Alperen Sengun.

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Key individual statistics included:

Kevin Durant: 26 points, 4 rebounds; 8-of-11 shooting (72.7%), 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%), 8-of-9 on free throws (88.9%)Alperen Sengun: 16 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 blocks; 5-of-13 shooting (38.5%), 5-of-7 on free throws (71.4%)Amen Thompson: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists; 6-of-12 shooting (50.0%), 4-of-6 on free throws (66.7%)Jaylen Brown (Celtics): 12 points, 5 assists, 5 turnovers; 6-of-14 shooting (42.9%), 0-of-2 on 3-pointers

Smith, Okogie, Eason, and Reed Sheppard all scored 12 points apiece for the Rockets. The latter three combined to make a blistering 11-of-16 from 3-point range (68.8%), with Houston connecting on 19-of-29 from distance (65.5%) as a team.

At 45.4%, the Rockets rank No. 1 in the NBA in 3-point accuracy this season.

“When we’re clicking on all cylinders like that, we’re tough to stop,” Durant said postgame.

Houston resumes play Monday at home versus Dallas (2-3), and the Mavericks will be without Anthony Davis (left calf strain) in that game. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. Central, and the in-state showdown will be televised regionally on Space City Home Network and nationally via NBA League Pass.

The Rockets enter with three straight victories, and they’ve posted those wins by an average margin of more than 24 points per game.

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