HOUSTON -- In their final game before the NBA's in-season trade deadline, the Rockets left a poor impression in Wednesday's 114-93 loss ( box score ) to Boston .
In a matchup of perceived contenders, the Celtics (33-18) are tied for the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference standings , while Houston (31-18) remains at No. 4 in the West.
Veteran guard Derrick White led the visitors with 28 points and 8 assists while making 6-of-14 shots (42.9%) from 3-point range. Boston was on night two of a road back-to-back and missing several rotation players — including All-Star wing Jaylen Brown — yet the Celtics played with considerably more energy from the outset.
For the hosts, Kevin Durant returned from a one-game injury absence (left ankle sprain) but was largely ineffective, finishing with 15 points and 5 rebounds while making 4-of-11 shots (36.4%). Durant missed all four of his 3-point attempts, and three of his makes came in the second half — effectively after the game had been decided.
With frustrations boiling over, head coach Ime Udoka and big man Alperen Sengun (13 points, 9 rebounds) were each ejected in the second half.
In postgame comments, Udoka addressed his team's apparent lack of toughness. Via Michael Shapiro of Chron.com :
The overall toughness and the energy of the group to start games is not there.
Some personnel went out the door that brings that [edge] on a nightly basis. Dillon (Brooks) does that, Fred (VanVleet) does that. Steven (Adams) is out, he's one of our tougher energy guys, but we've got enough without that. We got Amen (Thompson), Tari ( Eason ), guys that have had that ingrained in them the last few years. 50-50 balls, we're sitting there watching. I've never seen that many balls hit our hands and lose them, and us not getting on the floor, diving for balls.
Things we did constantly in the past, we've got to get back to that.
Brooks is now a member of the Phoenix Suns after the June 2025 trade bringing Durant to Houston. VanVleet and Adams are out with long-term leg injuries.
"Overall, as a coaching staff, we should be embarrassed," Udoka concluded. "As the players on the floor, (they) should be embarrassed."
So, will Houston be able to bounce back? It won't be easy, as the Rockets will now face the resurgent Hornets on night two of a home back-to-back. Charlotte (23-28) enters with seven straight wins.
Thursday's tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. Central from Toyota Center, and the game will be televised regionally on Space City Home Network and nationally via NBA League Pass .
That game will take place just a few hours after the league's 2025-26 deadline for in-season trades, which arrives at 2:00 p.m. Central on Thursday.
Prior to Wednesday, Houston had won eight of its previous 10 games, which makes its lifeless performance against the Celtics even more unusual.
More: Rockets star Kevin Durant (ankle sprain) returns after missing one game
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: 'Embarrassed': Ime Udoka rips Rockets after bizarre loss to Boston
