Patterson and Hayes lay a beating on the Celtics 93-77

Rookie Patrick Patterson was well on his way to 18 points with a season-high 12 rebounds.


Celtics forward Kevin Garnett had shifted into his familiar full-volume, full-throated attack, barking at the top of Chuck Hayes’ head as they stood chin to face, close enough to identify each other’s flavor of gum.

Hayes and the Rockets laughed. The Celtics shoved. The Rockets pushed back. The Celtics hit. The Rockets hit harder. Moments after Garnett shouted at Hayes’ way, Hayes ripped the ball from him. On the other end, Hayes flew past him. The Rockets’ 6-6 forward pestered and frustrated Boston’s 6-11, Hall of Fame-bound star. Meanwhile, the Rockets’ Kyle Lowry bulldogged past Rajon Rondo, Boston’s All-Star point guard, while Kevin Martin outpointed the Celtics’ Ray Allen, the greatest 3-point shooter in the history of the game.
When they were through, the Rockets had rolled to a 29-point lead before cruising to a 93-77 rout of the Celtics on Friday night at Toyota Center.