The Celtics pushed their lead to as many as 12 points early in the fourth quarter Rockets did not go down without a fight late, answering with a 13-0 run to retake the lead. It was a back-and-forth battle down the stretch with the two sides trading baskets before Thompson hit the game-winner with 0.7 seconds left in regulation.

The Celtics were outmatched in the possession battle and struggled to execute in key moments. Defensive miscues, turnovers, and a lack of rim pressure gave the Rockets the edge, while Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown faced challenges leading the offense.