By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

HOUSTON -- The Celtics will try to continue their momentum with a difficult game tonight against the Rockets and coach Doc Rivers has decided to insert Courtney Lee back into the lineup and move Jason Terry back to the bench. It is uncertain whether this is a permanent move.

Rivers also addressed the tragedy in Connecticut and said he would talk with his players about the issue before the game.

"I don’t know what right answer is (in whether I should address the team), I know a lot of our guys are talking about it,” he said. “It was awful, just awful day. It really is. This is our jobs. You know? This is not a game for us. This is what we do but when something like this happens, it supersedes job and everything else. As a parent, this is awful, awful what happened.

“I saw a guy do an interview there with a Celtics shirt on. So that does make it part of our community, that area. It’s probably 50-50 Celtics or Knicks in Connecticut. But this is a national incident. I think it hits home because we’re all parents and it’s just senseless.”

STARTING LINEUPS.
BOSTON CELTICS (12-9)
PG Rajon Rondo
SG Courtney Lee
SF Paul Pierce
PF Brandon Bass
C Kevin Garnett

HOUSTON ROCKETS (10-11)
PG Jeremy Lin
SG James Harden
SF Chandler Parsons
PF Patrick Patterson
C Omer Asik

Officials: Tom Washington, David Jones, Haywoode Workman

Game time: 8 p.m.

TV/Radio: Comcast Sportsnet, ESPN / WEEI

Pregame notes:

• Former Harvard standout Jeremy Lin said he's more comfortable in Houston after last year's event-filled season with the Knicks. Lin is shooting 39.9 percent from the field.

• Rivers said he will work Leandro Barbosa back into the rotation after being satisfied with the bench play the previous week. The Celtics, who played a double-overtime game Wednesday, had four games in the next six nights.

• Doc Rivers said Avery Bradley, who is traveling with the team, is progressing but he has no idea when Bradley will be cleared to practice.

• The Celtics travel after the game to face the San Antonio Spurs for the final time this season.