Celtics drop second in a row

Celtics drop second in a row

The Celtics are finally starting to feel the effects of Kevin Garnett’s absence.

With Garnett missing his seventh game due to a calf injury, Boston dropped its second game Monday in a surprising, 108-102, loss to the undermanned Houston Rockets at the TD Garden.

Led by Aaron Brooks’ 24-point performance, the Rockets snapped their five-game skid on the road despite missing leading scorer Kevin Martin, who sat out with a wrist injury. The Celtics, meanwhile, dropped to 28-9 and fell a full game behind Miami (30-9) for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

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The Rockets (16-21) gave themselves a bit of breathing room in the third quarter and scored six of the first eight points in the fourth before the Celtics rallied in the closing minutes to pull to within four. Brooks, who missed 20 games this season with a sprained ankle, hit a pair of free throws with 19 seconds remaining to ice the win.

Ray Allen led Boston with 19 points. Marquis Daniels chipped in with 19 points and seven assists and Rajon Rondo finished with 12 assists. Prior to Monday, the Celtics hadn’t lost at home since Nov. 19. They had also won four in a row without Garnett until this recent two-game skid.

Boston will look to get back on track Wednesday at home against Sacramento. Garnett could return for that game if all goes well with his rehabilitation.