Jayson Tatum led with 25 points, while Jaylen Brown contributed 24 as the Boston Celtics continued their impressive form, winning their sixth consecutive game by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 134-101 on Sunday’s NBA action.
Derrick White, playing against his former team, scored 17 points, while Kristaps Porzingis, back from a calf injury, added 14 points and nine rebounds. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla praised the team’s defensive and transitional play, highlighting their ability to identify and exploit mismatches quickly.
“We got stops,” Mazzulla said. “I thought we were really good at doing both, protecting the paint and getting out to contest, which allowed us to get out in transition. I think our secondary transition, we did a good job of recognizing where the mismatch was and getting to it fast and playing together as a team through it.”
Despite efforts from Devin Vassell, who scored 22 points, and Victor Wembanyama with 21 points and seven rebounds, the Spurs, who have now lost seven of their last eight games, couldn’t match up to the Celtics. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich acknowledged Boston’s championship quality and constant improvement, presenting a significant challenge for his team.
“They are a championship-caliber team, that’s what they are out there for, that’s their goal, and they proved it once again,” Popovich said. “Joe does a great job with them. They’ve got good talent, obviously, all-star talent; and they’ve got the grit. They’ve got the execution and getting better all the time. That’s a tough challenge at this particular time for our group.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Updates
Boston finished December with a dominant 12-2 record, and the game against the last-place Spurs in the Western Conference unfolded as anticipated. Wembanyama noted Boston’s exceptional performance, recognizing the challenge and learning opportunity it presented.
“I can feel that compared to the past years, they have something extra this year,” Wembanyama said. “And, of course, it’s difficult to play against them and it is a good challenge. But I think we learned today.”
The Celtics led by as much as 37 points and rested their starters for most of the fourth quarter. The Spurs never led and this marked the sixth time this season they trailed by 35 points or more.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics, Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Updates
San Antonio felt the absence of Zach Collins and Keldon Johnson due to injuries, with Wembanyama and Vassell initially carrying the team’s scoring. However, their shooting and the team’s overall performance were lackluster. The Spurs completed the game with 12-44 from three-point range.
Wembanyama provided some highlights for the Spurs, showcasing his skills with a reverse slam and a one-handed dunk. White humorously commented on avoiding a confrontation with Wembanyama during one of these dunks.
“I’m not an idiot,” White said. “I was hoping he would take another dribble, and then I could try to do that (strip or steal), but he picked it up, and I never saw it again. So, I was just trying to get out of the way. That was crazy.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics, Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Updates
Boston excelled in rebounding, particularly in the first half, with six players scoring in double figures. For the Spurs, aside from Wembanyama and Vassell, only second-year player Malaki Branham reached double figures with 11 points.
The Celtics look forward to their next game against Oklahoma City on Tuesday, while the Spurs will face Memphis.
