The Houston Rockets were dealt a gut-wrenching loss on Monday and must now take on the visiting Boston Celtics, a tough defensive team that is looking for their eighth straight win.

HOME TEAM: Houston Rockets (33-20, 18-8 at home)

The Rockets enter having lost two consecutive frustrating games. After getting rag dolled for 36 points by the lottery-bound Phoenix Suns, they then lost to Utah Jazz, 114-113, courtesy of a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Bojan Bogdanovic, who they had locked up for pretty much the whole contest.

As the team tries to climb out of the pit, the usual suspects will lead the charge. James Harden is on his way to another scoring title as he is at 35.2 PPG for the season, five points higher than the next guy on the list. Russell Westbrook, meanwhile, is averaging 31.4 PPG over his last 24 games, which hit a two-month stretch yesterday.

With the small-ball line-up in full effect, the supporting cast now consists of tweener forwards and two-guards – Robert Covington (12.8 PPG), Eric Gordon (15.3 PPG), PJ Tucker (7.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG), Austin Rivers (11.9 PPG in his last 10), Danuel House (12.6 PPG in his last eight), and Ben McLemore (13.3 PPG in his last seven).

ROAD TEAM: Boston Celtics (37-15, 15-10 on the road)

The Celtics extended their streak to seven following Monday’s 112-111 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The offense was decent at best so it was their defense that finished it off, with Marcus Smart picking up a crucial steal that led to the game-sealing free throw. Boston is among the top-rated defenses in the league, ranking inside the top three in points allowed (105.5 PAPG) and defensive efficiency.

The Celtics’ offense, however, isn’t that far behind. The Cs have three guys averaging over 20-plus points – Jayson Tatum (22.2 PPG), Kemba Walker (22 PPG), and Jaylen Brown (20.2 PPG). It can easily be four if not for Gordon Hayward (17.1 PPG) getting slowed down by an injury in December – he has eight 20-point games in his last 13 outings.

PREDICTION:

The Celtics are not a good road team but they have won three-straight games outside Boston, and I see them giving the Rockets problems. Their high-scoring trio should be able to overcome Harden and Westbrook and lead the Cs to a 116-110 win.