Former Celtics coach Ime Udoka reflected on Payton Pritchard's lack of playing time, and how far the Celtics guard has come.

Udoka, now coaching the Rockets, saw Pritchard step into an important role as the Celtics marched to the 2022 NBA Finals before losing to the Warriors.

We are over halfway through now, and our record is what it is,” Ime Udoka says of the Rockets (32-14). “It is not just a fluke or anything.”

Former Celtics coach Ime Udoka beat his former team for the first time ever, though he didn't overplay the Rockets' win in Boston.

Houston is coming,” veteran NBA media personality Stephen A. Smith said during an ESPN segment praising Amen Thompson and Rockets coach Ime Udoka.

The Houston Rockets are targeting a former Ime Udoka player from the Boston Celtics on the trade market, per a report.

The Celtics will be down two rotation players, so expect C’s coach Joe Mazzulla to dip into his bench. The last time the Celtics were shorthanded like this, Jaden Springer emerged off the bench in an impressive game against the Clippers in Los Angeles. Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman could also see some playing time in the rotation.

The Boston Celtics lost in the final moments of the game as a Amen Thompson buzzer-beater lifted the Houston Rockets to a 114-112 victory

The Celtics will need to play well at home to prevent another deflating loss to a team they should beat on paper.

Referee J.T. Orr, left, assesses technical fouls to Houston Rockets head coach About Ime Udoka, center, and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Los Angeles. Udoka was ejected from the game as that was his second technical foul.

The Rockets beat the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers twice last week before traveling to Boston and pulling out a 114-112 victory over the defending champion Celtics on Monday night.