This was a terrific showing for Kornet as he picked up the start with Derrick White (leg) unavailable. Al Horford (toe) was expected to play, but was ultimately a late scratch that went unreported by Boston. Kornet has fared well as a fill-in starter this season, averaging 11.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.3 blocks in six games.

Joe Mazzulla took the blame for the late-game miscues, saying he put his players in poor position but it was evident that Horford’s absence proved costly in that spot since Kornet has not played in crunch time for much of the season.

When Boston needed a stop, the calls the Celtics coach made proved disastrous, and afterward took responsibility for the loss: "I didn't help them close it at the end."

The Boston Celtics lost in the final moments of the game as a Amen Thompson buzzer-beater lifted the Houston Rockets to a 114-112 victory

Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun (28) goes up for a shot as Boston Celtics' Derrick White (9) and Luke Kornet defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) AP

The big man will receive his sixth start of the season with Al Horford coming off the bench Monday. Kornet has averaged 9.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 28.4 minutes per game over his five appearances in the starting lineup thus far.

Amen Thompson hit a game-winning floater with 0.7 seconds left and finished with 33 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 114-112 victory over the Boston Celtics on Monday night.

The Houston Rockets (30-14) play the final game of a two-game season series against the Boston Celtics (32-14) on Monday at TD Garden. The Celtics handed the Rockets their biggest loss of the season in a 109-86 blowout at Toyota Center on Jan.

Luke Kornet had 18 and Kristaps Porzingis scored ... with 0.7 seconds left and finished with 33 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 114-112 victory over the Boston Celtics on Monday night.

Miscommunication cost the Celtics in the closing seconds of their loss to the Rockets. Eddie House details what he saw on Houston's final possessions.

The Boston Celtics are by no means in any trouble. They lost Monday night at home to the ascending Houston Rockets, and yes, the Celtics are now more than five games back of the Cleveland Cavaliers at the top of the Eastern Conference;