Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (0) retains the ball away from Houston Rockets’ Amen Thompson in the course of the first half of an NBA basketball recreation, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photograph/Michael Dwyer)

BOSTON — Jayson Tatum had 27 factors and eight rebounds earlier than being ejected on back-to-back technical fouls within the fourth quarter, and the Boston Celtics remained unbeaten at dwelling with a 145-113 victory over ex-coach Ime Udoka and the Houston Rockets on Saturday night time.

Jaylen Brown scored 32 factors and the Celtics improved to 19-0 within the TD Backyard – the primary time within the historical past of the much-decorated franchise that it has opened a season with greater than 17 wins in a row.

Jaylen Brown put in work tonight within the Celtics W 🔥

32 PTS | 6 REB | 4 3PM pic.twitter.com/JaLPDBUtUO

— NBA (@NBA) January 14, 2024

Cam Whitmore scored 22 factors and Alperen Sengun had 19 factors and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who’ve misplaced three of their final 4 to drop their document to 19-19. They received simply 22 video games all final season.

Tatum was tossed for the second time in six weeks, choosing up his first technical for complaining a few non-call with 10:17 left within the fourth quarter and Boston main 117-90. He continued to complain whereas Aaron Vacation took the foul shot and picked up a second T, then walked over to referee CJ Washington and leaned in to shout one thing earlier than strolling off the courtroom.

Coming off a 33-point loss to Milwaukee on Thursday, the Celtics returned to Boston and prolonged their dwelling profitable streak to 26 consecutive regular-season video games courting to final March. They did lose within the TD Backyard in final yr’s playoffs, together with Miami’s Sport 7 win within the Japanese Convention finals.

The Rockets led by six factors within the first quarter and nonetheless trailed simply 51-50 halfway by means of the second earlier than Boston scored 18 of the following 24 factors to take a double-digit lead into halftime. Houston by no means bought inside 10 once more, with Boston main by as many as 27 factors within the third quarter and 36 within the fourth.

Udoka was teaching in Boston for the primary time since he was suspended, after which fired, on the eve of the 2022-23 season for inappropriate office conduct. Joe Mazzulla changed him, first because the interim coach, after which full time.

Udoka, who led the Celtics to the NBA Finals in his solely season on the Boston bench, bought a blended response when he was launched earlier than the sport.

“Clearly need to get an opportunity to run it again with a bunch you are feeling you’ll be able to construct and develop with,” he mentioned earlier than the sport. “So for me the largest factor I might say total is letting some individuals down, for certain. However we’ve talked it out … and so we transfer previous it.”

NEXT SCHEDULE

Rockets: At Philadelphia on Monday.

Celtics: At Toronto on Monday.