The Boston Celtics showcased their championship pedigree with a commanding 109-86 victory over the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.

Percentages: FG .506, FT .667. 3-Point Goals: 19-39, .487 (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 ...

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 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.

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 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.

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

Which NBA teams are the biggest threat to keep the Boston Celtics from repeating as champs? In the league's Eastern Conference standings, the weaker of the two conferences this campaign, one could make a case for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and perhaps the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks if one squints hard enough.

The Houston Rockets (27-12) will go for their sixth win in a row as they face the Sacramento Kings (20-20) on Thursday in the second of a three-game road trip. The Rockets routed the Nuggets on Wednesday night for their 13th road win,