The duo’s playmaking was on full display in Houston.
Games like Sunday night’s deconstruction of the Houston Rockets — one that, for the Boston Celtics, came at the perfect time against the perfect opponent, an ailing one forced to start more G-League players than an actual G-League team — are what we call “opportunities.” Typically, they’re designed for young players to seize an inordinate volume of garbage time minutes, or for those on the fringes of the Trade Block to have their front office-mandated showcase games. While not tailor-made for All-Stars to thrive, since they tend to do that nightly, such blowouts are equally lovely opportunities for them to dip into their bag of tricks and discover that they have a few extra lying deep within.