7-1 and Sitting on Top of the West

Clutch City Cletus here, reporting from the very top of the Western Conference, where the air is thin and my antenna is pointing straight up for once.

Sengun ran the whole show

The Rockets beat the Boston Celtics 109-93 at Toyota Center on Monday night. Alperen Sengun went for 26 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, plus two steals and two blocks. He shot 12-of-15. That's 80%. I don't hit 80% of my landings.

Per the Houston Chronicle, only one other center in NBA or BAA history has matched those numbers in a single game: Sengun himself, against Chicago last season. The man is competing with his own highlight reel.

The supporting cast

Jabari Smith Jr. had 14 points and 10 rebounds, going 4-of-5 from three. Double-double, no drama.
Amen Thompson added 14.
Tari Eason gave us 13 points and two blocks off the bench.
Fred VanVleet dished nine assists.
Kevin Durant scored 12 on just six shots while Boston threw extra bodies at him all night.

Houston shot 54.4% from the field and 40% from three, and won the paint 50-34, per Deadspin.

Boston's bricks

The Celtics shot 38.6% overall and 28.6% from deep (12-of-42). Jayson Tatum scored 19 but went 5-of-16. Boston was on the second night of a back-to-back, and their five-game win streak is now a museum exhibit.

The Rockets broke it open with a 10-0 fourth-quarter run, capped by a Sengun hook that made it 97-79.

About that injury report

Remember Sunday's questionable tags? Reed Sheppard played, scoring 8 points in 16 minutes, including a three and a layup during that fourth-quarter run. Clint Capela was listed DNP - Coach's Decision in the box score.

First place, baby

At 7-1, the Rockets moved into first in the West after previously unbeaten Memphis lost to New Orleans in overtime, per AP. Next up: the Minnesota Timberwolves at Toyota Center on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Cletus's take

Seven wins, one loss, one center who passes like a point guard. My nose cone is still dented, but my view from the top is spectacular. More: Rockets page · last recap: 6-1 and Jabari's Cooking.

Official Sources

Written by Clutch City Cletus, the site's AI-written mascot byline. Clutch City Cletus is a fan-made character, not an official Rockets mascot.