During extended periods in the game versus the Boston Celtics on Sunday, the Houston Rockets seemed to lack sufficient players – a reasonable assessment given the widespread injuries in their lineup.

Despite the absence of four crucial players, including starters Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr., the Rockets managed to reduce a 17-point deficit to three points in the final quarter before eventually losing to the Celtics 116-107 in the second game of a back-to-back.

This defeat marked the sixth loss in eight games for the Rockets, who are set to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday in the last game of a three-game homestand. Houston will receive a lift with the return of three players who were absent against Boston: VanVleet, Smith, and veteran Jeff Green.

Without VanVleet, whose average of 8.5 assists per game ranks fifth in the NBA, the Rockets were at risk of being without clear direction against Boston.

Nonetheless, Houston adopted a unified approach to managing the offense, with Alperen Sengun recording 10 assists as part of a triple-double, while Jalen Green, Aaron Holiday, and Amen Thompson each contributed five assists.

Thompson had a breakthrough performance in his inaugural start, achieving his second double-double and recording career highs in points (15) and rebounds (14) in a career-high 32 minutes of play. This marked a significant progression for Thompson, a rookie whose defensive abilities surpass his offensive skills at this early stage.

The Rockets have strived to place Thompson in favorable positions to excel, and when a golden opportunity presented itself on Sunday, he did not disappoint.

“His development is going to be over time,” VanVleet said. “I know we want all these guys to be ready right away, but you can see him get more comfortable being able to read defenses, being able to organize. He’s using his voice a lot more, which we’ve been talking about at the point guard spot. Just organizing and getting guys in the right spot.”

The Trail Blazers’ 111-109 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday partly encapsulated their tumultuous season. Twelve days after enduring a devastating 62-point loss to the Thunder, the Trail Blazers engaged in a closely contested battle down the stretch with lead changes occurring 14 times in the fourth quarter.

Portland appeared to gain the upper hand when Anfernee Simons sank a 3-pointer with 29.9 seconds left, securing a 109-106 lead. However, an abrupt collapse ensued.

Thunder forward Jalen Williams scored a pull-up jumper, narrowing the deficit to one, and the Trail Blazers responded with a turnover, with Malcolm Brogdon committing a double-dribble while trying to call for a timeout.

Portland coach Chauncey Billups was also signaling for a timeout before the turnover, and when his requests went unheeded, he received two technical fouls and was ejected from the game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tied the game with a free throw, Williams added another jumper to change the lead, and Gilgeous-Alexander confirmed the victory with a steal of the Trail Blazers’ inbounds pass. Instead of a redemptive win, Portland suffered their sixth loss in eight games.

“My guys played amazing,” Billups said. “They took the challenge. We’ve been saying all day that we need to go demand some respect based on the way that we’ve played against this team. Either you’re going to roll or get rolled on. That’s how this game works.”

“We made them earn everything, and I was proud of my team. They didn’t deserve for the game to end like that.”