For three quarters Tuesday night, the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics looked like two teams unwilling to blink. Every Spurs run was answered. Every Boston basket seemed to come with a response. The crowd inside Frost Bank Center stayed on edge, sensing the game could tilt either way.
Then Victor Wembanyama tilted it.
The Spurs’ young superstar caught fire from beyond the arc and, when the game tightened in the fourth quarter, San Antonio delivered the final surge to secure a 125-116 win over
the Celtics. It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why Wembanyama is quickly becoming one of the most electrifying players in the NBA.
The night began with both teams trading baskets in a fast-paced opening quarter. Boston leaned on former Spur Derrick White, who quickly found his rhythm and kept the Celtics within striking distance. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s offense flowed through Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, who pushed the tempo and created opportunities for his teammates.
Neither side gained much separation. By halftime, the scoreboard reflected the back-and-forth nature of the game as the team’s went to the locker room even at 58 apiece. Boston’s perimeter shooting kept the pressure on, while the Spurs countered with crisp ball movement and timely shooting from Devin Vassell and the supporting cast.
The tension only grew in the third quarter.
White began to heat up for Boston, knocking down difficult shots and attacking the lane. But every time the Celtics appeared ready to take control, Wembanyama answered. The 7-foot-4 phenom drilled three-pointers with ease, stretching Boston’s defense farther and farther away from the rim.
Still, the game remained tight entering the final period. That’s when the Spurs made their move.
With the Celtics clinging within a possession early in the fourth quarter, San Antonio strung together the run that changed everything. Vassell knocked down a key three. Fox sliced into the lane for a layup. Wembanyama followed with another deep shot that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Suddenly, a close game had become a Spurs advantage that Boston couldn’t erase. The Celtics fought back behind White’s scoring, but San Antonio’s offense never cooled. Fox continued orchestrating the attack, Wembanyama kept stretching the defense, and the Spurs calmly knocked down free throws down the stretch.
By the final minutes, the outcome was no longer in doubt.
When the buzzer sounded, the Spurs walked away with a huge victory, another impressive win during what has become one of the team’s hottest stretches of the season.
And once again, it was Wembanyama at the center of it all, putting on a performance that felt as spectacular as it was decisive.
Game Notes
- It is still so amazing to see Jason Tatum back on the court playing good basketball after that devastating Achilles tear last season in the NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks. So happy to see him back. Tatum had his best scoring night since returning with 24 points on Tuesday night.
- Despite Jaylen Brown’s ejection, the Spurs got a huge win against a championship contender. Boston joins Detroit, Oklahoma City, and Denver among the league’s top teams that have been beat by San Antonio this season.
- Julian Champagnie is human after all, he had a poor shooting night and did not score, but his teammates came through in the clutch.
- The Spurs big three of De’Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama, and Stephon Castle combined for 82 of Spurs’ 125 points. Wemby led the way with 39 points and tied his career-high of eight three-pointers. Fox added 25 points, and Castle chipped in 18. If this is the version of the Spurs big three we’re going to get come playoff time, the entire NBA may be in trouble.
