HOUSTON (Interstat) — Alperen Sengun had 26 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and two blocks, and the Houston Rockets beat the Boston Celtics 109-93 on Monday at Toyota Center. Sengun, a 6-foot-11 center, controlled the paint and helped Houston pull away in the fourth quarter. The Rockets improved to 7-1. The Celtics fell to 5-2 after winning five straight since a season-opening loss at Detroit. Houston’s only loss this season came at Dallas. Attendance was 18,055.

Houston shot 43 of 79 from the floor, including 14 of 35 from 3-point range, and scored 109 points on 89 possessions for an offensive rating of 122.2. Boston shot 32 of 83 overall, 12 of 42 from beyond the arc and 17 of 20 from the free-throw line, finishing with 93 points on 94 possessions for an offensive rating of 98.4. Houston shot 54.4 percent from the floor and 40 percent from 3-point range. Boston shot 38.6 percent overall and 28.6 percent from deep. Boston had 13 offensive rebounds to Houston’s 9. The Rockets had eight assists, five blocks, 13 turnovers and 22 fouls. The Celtics had six assists, two blocks, 15 turnovers and 19 fouls. Houston’s 89 possessions were five fewer than Boston’s 94, but the Rockets’ efficiency made the difference. Houston scored 109 points despite attempting only 13 free throws.

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 19 points, six rebounds and nine assists in 32 minutes. Neemias Queta added 16 points, six rebounds and one assist in 26 minutes. Luka Garza scored 14 points with three rebounds and one block in 18 minutes, and Baylor Scheierman had 11 points, five rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes. Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Hugo Gonzalez and Mitchell Robinson also contributed to Boston’s offense, though the Celtics finished with only six team assists and shot 28.6 percent from 3-point range. Boston’s turnovers and foul trouble limited its chances to cut into Houston’s lead. Boston made 17 of 20 free throws, but its 12-of-42 shooting from beyond the arc limited comeback chances.

Jabari Smith Jr. had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Houston in 36 minutes. Amen Thompson scored 14 points with three rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes. Tari Eason added 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 27 minutes. Kevin Durant scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting with three rebounds, three assists and one block in 33 minutes. Fred VanVleet had eight points, two rebounds and nine assists in 27 minutes. Sengun entered after scoring at least 16 points in each of his previous four games, including 29-point efforts against Atlanta and San Antonio. Sengun’s 10 assists helped Houston finish with eight team assists, and his two blocks were part of a five-block night for the Rockets. Houston’s balanced scoring and Sengun’s passing kept Boston from stringing together stops.

Houston opened with a 5-0 burst on Durant’s 13-foot jumper and VanVleet’s 28-foot 3-pointer. Boston answered through Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez, and Tatum kept the Celtics close with free throws and a driving shot. The opening quarter ended tied at 29 after Tatum made two free throws with 1.6 seconds left. Smith opened the second with a 5-foot shot, and Sengun followed with a driving layup. Boston’s Mike Conley hit a 26-foot 3, but Smith answered with a 28-foot 3 and Sengun dunked to make it 38-32. Garza kept Boston close with a 23-foot 3, and Houston pushed its lead to 57-50 at halftime.

Boston stayed within reach in the third. Queta made a 24-foot 3 and two tip shots early in the third, and Scheierman’s 24-foot 3 pulled Boston to 63-60. Robinson’s dunk made it 63-62. Houston responded with Sengun’s 26-foot 3, VanVleet’s pull-up jumper and Smith’s 25-foot runner. The Rockets closed the third with Durant’s free throws and 15-foot pull-up for an 82-73 lead. Sengun’s scoring and passing repeatedly answered Boston’s runs, and Houston’s defense forced the Celtics into contested outside shots.

The decisive stretch came early in the fourth. White hit a 17-foot pull-up to start the fourth, and Sengun answered with a layup. Pritchard made a free throw, but Marcus Smart hit two 3-pointers and Reed Sheppard added a 3 and a running layup as Houston built a 97-79 cushion. Sengun capped the run with a 5-foot shot, and Sheppard’s 25-foot 3 made it 100-82 with 6:24 remaining. Boston cut the deficit to 102-89 on Scheierman’s 29-foot 3, but Houston answered with Thompson’s dunk and Smith’s 25-foot 3. Jordan Walsh hit an 11-foot pull-up for Boston, Thornton made a 17-foot pull-up for Houston, and Cenac’s alley-oop dunk set the final margin. Sengun’s all-around play was central throughout, with his 26 points and 10 assists powering Houston’s most important stretches.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected Houston 113, Boston 111. Interstat’s ELO system gave Houston a 64.5 percent probability to win. Houston was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -4.5, and the total score of 202 went over the over/under line of 215.5.