Celtics guard Derrick White scored 28 points in Jaylen Brown's absence in Wednesday's win over the Rockets.
Celtics guard Derrick White scored 28 points in Jaylen Brown's absence in Wednesday's win over the Rockets.Karen Warren/Associated Press
HOUSTON — NBA players tend to have long memories and the Celtics remember when the Rockets came to TD Garden and handed them a 27-point pounding three months ago.
The Rockets made 19 3-pointers that night and led by as many as 36. The Celtics were tired, playing for a third time in four nights and were overwhelmed by Houston’s athleticism.
Fast forward to Wednesday when the Celtics, despite missing Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser, completely outclassed the Rockets in the rematch, nailing 19 triples, getting a vintage performance from Derrick White, and completing perhaps their most impressive victory of the season.
Derrick White’s third-quarter burst helped Boston take full control while Payton Pritchard dropped in 27 points as Boston pummeled Houston 114-93 at Toyota Center, completing an undefeated Texas swing.
White scored 28 points and Ron Harper Jr., making his first NBA start, pitched in with 11 points and nine rebounds as the Celtics led by as many as 29 points. The Rockets looked completely frustrated as coach Ime Udoka and center Alperen Sengun were ejected for arguing with officials.
Six Celtics scored in double figures, including Luka Garza with 19 points and Neemias Queta with 10 points and 19 rebounds. Kevin Durant led Houston with 15 points on 4-for-11 shooting as the Rockets shot just 41 percent and missed 19 3-pointers.
It was a tough January for White and his February hadn’t been much better until Wednesday, when he took over the third quarter with an array of jumpers, floaters, and 3-pointers.
He began with a triple to boost the lead to 19 and then later followed with another 3-pointer followed by a Harper Jr. corner three for a 67-48 lead. The Celtics weren’t done. White followed with the next 8 points, including his sixth 3-pointer for a 75-51 lead and then Harper dunked in White’s miss for a stunning 26-point lead.
The Rockets looked completely flustered and the frustration later set in. Durant brought Houston back to within 19 with 9 consecutive points and Reed Sheppard later added a three.
But the Celtics took back momentum when Queta drew a loose ball foul with 1.1 seconds left in the third period. Udoka was angry with the call and said a few choice words before being ejected. Boston ended the period with four free throws and an 85-63 lead. White scored 14 in the quarter.
The Celtics used a 14-2 run over the first and second periods to take a 26-19 lead, with White warming up after a slow start. They couldn’t build on the lead because of turnovers and missed open shots. In one sequence Baylor Scheierman missed a 3-pointer off the fast break and then fouled Kevin Durant away from the ball with the Rockets in the bonus.
Joe Mazzulla had seen enough and went back to Ron Harper Jr., who was solid in his most extensive stretch as a Celtic, scoring 6 points on a pair of threes with three rebounds in the first half.
Durant’s free throws with 3:29 left in the period gave the Rockets a brief 37-36 lead. The Celtics responded with a 13-5 quarter-ending run as Payton Pritchard scored 9 of Boston’s final 11 points, including a jumper with 10.7 left for a 49-42 lead.
Boston’s offense found a rhythm in the second period, making 10 of 20 shots and 5 of 12 3-pointers. Queta helped the Celtics control the paint with a career-high 12 first-half rebounds, outdueling Houston’s Sengun, who scored 8 points with seven boards.
Durant, after missing a game with an ankle sprain, looked a step slow in the first half, missing four of five shots and scoring 6 points.
It was the teams’ first meeting since the Rockets’ 128-101 drubbing of the Celtics on Nov. 1. Boston was just returning from Philadelphia and played its third game in four nights. The well-rested Rockets shot 55 percent, make 19 of 29 3-pointers and had six players score in double figures.
Houston scored 37 points in that opening period. On Wednesday, the Rockets struggled to gain any offensive traction in the early going, missing 14 of 21 shots, 6 of 7 3-pointers, and 4 of 6 free throws as the Celtics led 18-17.
The severely shorthanded Celtics were hustling mightily on defense and attacking the boards, especially Harper Jr., who received his first career NBA start in his 19th career game. Mazzulla chose to keep Pritchard as a reserve despite the Celtics missing two starters.
The Celtics weren’t much better offensively than the Rockets but used a late period run to take the 1-point lead. Pritchard scored 5 points off the bench.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.