Houston Rockets leading scorers Alperen Şengün and Jalen Green combined for just 23 points Monday night in a road contest at the defending-champion Boston Celtics. A pair of unexpected reinforcements led Ime Udoka 's squad in a marquee 114-112 victory.

Dillon Brooks may be one of the most vilified players in the association — to the point that he has embraced the nickname “The Villain” — but make no mistake about it, he is a player who contributes to winning at every stop.

Brooks, who is still looking for his first NBA title, has reached the playoffs three times, with his longest postseason run coming as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022, when they lost in the Conference Semifinals.