CELTS LOSE

Second year guard Mike Newlin hit 29 points helping the Houston Rockets to a 123-112 upset victory over the Boston Celtics in a National Basketball Association game last night.

The Rockets had as much as a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter but were hard pressed to hold it as John Havlicek and Dave Cowens scored 10 apiece in a fourth quarter surge.

Cowens fouled out with 1:37 left with the Celts trailing 117-108.

Houston's-Otto Moore got eight points in the fourth quarter and blocked a crucial shot by Paul Silas.