Bogdan Bogdanovic and Rockets Sit Atop the West! Houston Snaps Boston's Streak with Dominant Win to Move to 7-1 /VIDEO/

Sengun finished the night with 26 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, shooting an efficient 12-of-15 from the field (80%) while running much of the offense and posting a game-high plus-minus of +21.

He didn't have much backup at the center position either. With both Clint Capela and Steven Adams sidelined, Oscar Tshiebwe was the lone remaining option at center, logging roughly seven minutes. Bogdan Bogdanovic played five minutes and 17 seconds, registering one assist, missing his only three-point attempt, and finishing with a +4 plus-minus rating.

Boston only found answers in the opening quarter. Houston built an early 25-15 lead behind two Tari Eason three-pointers, but the Celtics answered with a 14-4 run to close the frame, capped by two late triples from Luka Garza and Jayson Tatum free throws at the buzzer to tie it at 29-29.

That was as close as Boston would get. Houston took the second quarter 28-21 to carry a 57-50 advantage into the break. Boston pushed the tempo early in the third, as Neemias Queta scored seven quick points and a Mitchell Robinson alley-oop cut Houston's lead to 63-62 with about nine minutes left in the period.

The Rockets quickly responded with a Fred VanVleet mid-range jumper, back-to-back transition threes from Jabari Smith Jr., and a pair of Sengun finishes at the rim to enter the final frame leading 82-73.

Houston then put the game away for good. Marcus Smart drained a three and followed with another, Reed Sheppard answered with a triple and a driving layup in his return from a lower back strain, and Sengun capped a decisive 10-0 run with a contested jumper to extend Houston's lead to a game-high 97-79 with roughly seven minutes remaining.

The defense deserves just as much credit. Tatum entered the night averaging 28.3 points per game but was held to 19 points on 5-of-16 shooting, including just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc, while committing five turnovers. Boston shot 38.6 percent overall and made just 12 of 42 three-point attempts.

The Rockets shot 54.4 percent from the floor, assisted on 34 of their 43 made baskets, and dominated points in the paint 50-34. Smith added 14 points and 10 rebounds while going 4-of-5 from deep, Amen Thompson scored 14, Eason added 13, and Kevin Durant chipped in 12 points on just six shots. VanVleet also dished out nine assists in his return to the court.

Boston was playing the second leg of a back-to-back and was without Paul George. Still, Houston dismantled a 5-1 squad by 16 points without two of their primary centers and never trailed in the contest. Since their NBA Cup defeat to Dallas, the Rockets have rattled off two consecutive wins by a combined 37 points—looking every bit like a true 7-1 contender.

VIDEO "Finally getting credit!" Doncic sets sights on MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors