The night after a nailbiter in Minnesota, the Boston Celtics got off to a modest start. Both teams traded baskets until Houston built a small lead. Alperen Sengun was effective scoring in the post with 8 points.

The Celtics may play down multiple starters, and should take care to treat the Rockets as a real threat under former Boston coach Ime Udoka.

The Boston Celtics took the court against the Houston Rockets on Friday (Jan. 3) night at Toyota Center without star Celtics forward Jaylen Brown for the second game in a row, but saw big man Kristaps Porzingis make his return to action after an extended absence due to a recent ankle injury.

The Raptors, who are three places off the bottom of the Eastern Conference, grabbed only their 10th win of the season. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The Houston Rockets faced some tests during their five-game homestand against some of the best teams in the league. They finished the test with varied results,

Pregame updates and news from the Rockets' NBA game against the Celtics at Toyota Center, where Rockets coach Ime Udoka faces his former team.

Low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has announced nonstop service connecting Nashville International Airport to both Houston and Boston, starting March 5.

The league's rising young teams have spent the last few seasons jostling for relevance in the NBA. The Houston Rockets are just now entering the conversation as

Alex Bregman is a two-time All-Star and two-time champion, a defensive ace who's posted an OPS+ at least 15 percent above league average in eight of nine MLB seasons. Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora still covets Bregman for more than his on-field production.

Totals 32-88 12-12 86. 3-Point Goals_Boston 19-39 (White 6-12, Pritchard 4-6, Tatum 4-10, Porzingis 2-3, J.Holiday 2-5, Peterson 1-1, Hauser 0-1, Walsh 0-1), Houston 10-36 (Ja.Green 5-13 ...

The Houston Rockets' postponed road game against the Atlanta Hawks has been rescheduled to Jan. 28, the NBA announced Wednesday. The new game date slots into the Rockets' schedule between a Jan. 27 game in Boston and a Jan. 30 game in Memphis, and extends Houston’s road trip from three games to four games including a Jan. 25 game in Cleveland.

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora knows a thing or two about middle infield defense. He also knows a thing or two about Alex Bregman. Before managing the Red So