Post Game - Celtics vs. San Antonio Spurs - Wednesday, January 17 (W)

Celtics-Spurs takeaways: C's improve to 20-0 at TD Garden

https://sports.yahoo.com/celtics-spurs-takeaways-cs-improve-030954349.html

Justin Leger
Wed, Jan 17, 2024, 10:09 PM EST·4 min read



Celtics-Spurs takeaways: C's improve to 20-0 at TD Garden originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Three Key Storylines

Boston Three Party
Jrue Holiday stays hot
Neemias Queta flexes his muscles

The Boston Celtics stayed unbeaten at TD Garden with a dominant victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.

San Antonio kept it close to start, but Boston caught fire in the second quarter to take a 25-point lead into the half -- its third-largest halftime lead of the season. After yet another sluggish third quarter (outscored 33-24), the Celtics held it together in the final frame to earn a 117-98 win.

Boston is now 20-0 at home this season with 27 consecutive regular-season wins at TD Garden dating back to last year. That's its longest such streak since it won 33 straight from Dec. 1986 to Nov. 1987.

Without Kristaps Porzingis (right knee inflammation) and Derrick White (left ankle sprain), the Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum (24 points), Jrue Holiday (22 points) and Jaylen Brown (21 points). Payton Pritchard added 12 points off the bench. Rookie Jordan Walsh made his NBA debut late in the fourth quarter and tallied four rebounds in three minutes.

Spurs rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama dropped a game-high 27 points in his TD Garden debut. Devin Vassell chipped in 21 for San Antonio.

The Celtics (32-9) will look to stay unbeaten at home when they welcome the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets (28-14) to TD Garden on Friday night. Before we turn the page to that marquee matchup, here are three takeaways from Wednesday's game.

Boston Three Party

When the Celtics are raining 3s, their opponents don't stand much of a chance. That was the case early and often in Wednesday's matchup.

The C's were even better from beyond the arc than Monday's win when they shot 41 percent against Toronto. This time, they made 47.4 percent of their shots (18-for-38 ) from deep with five players hitting at least two 3-pointers.

Most of the damage was done in the second quarter. They made eight of their nine 3-pointers in the frame to finish the half 13-of-19. Meanwhile, San Antonio just shot 1-for-9 from 3 in the quarter and 7-for-34 (20.6 percent) in the game.



The Celtics' 3-point prowess was the difference-maker, and this guy played a key role...

Jrue Holiday picks up where he left off

After dropping a season-high 22 points in Monday's win over the Toronto Raptors, Holiday gave Celtics fans an encore performance on Wednesday.

The veteran C's guard couldn't miss from beyond the arc for most of the night. He drilled his first five 3-pointers and finished 6-for-7, totaling 22 points (8-14 FG) for the second straight game.



Holiday is now a scorching-hot 10-for-13 from long range and 15-for-28 altogether over his last two games. The five-time All-Defensive selection continues to make a significant impact on both ends of the floor in his first season with Boston. He added four rebounds and four assists to his 22 points against the Spurs.

Neemias Queta flexes his muscles

When two-way big man Neemias Queta has gotten opportunities this season, he has capitalized more often than not. He stepped up again on Wednesday and held his own against the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama.

Early in the game, Queta made his presence felt when he muscled Wemby in the paint and threw down a dunk.



In the third quarter, Queta added another play to the highlight reel. He threw down a thunderous jam after battling for an offensive board.



Queta ended up with six points (2-4 FG), eight rebounds (four offensive), and two blocks in 12 minutes. He was a consistent source of energy for the C's, who needed a boost to their frontcourt with Porzingis sidelined.

Celtics president Brad Stevens will have to decide whether to convert Queta's two-way deal to a standard contract. Two-way players are eligible to eligible to be active in a maximum of 50 games with their NBA team.

From another perspective:



San Antonio at Boston, Final Score: Spurs lose to red-hot Celtics 117-98

https://www.poundingtherock.com/2024/1/17/24042368/san-antonio-at-boston-final-score-spurs-lose-to-red-hot-celtics-117-98

The Boston Celtics didn’t miss very many shots against the San Antonio Spurs, whether it was open or contested.

By JustinLee13  Jan 17, 2024, 8:57pm CST  1 Comment / 1 New




The San Antonio Spurs fell to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday as their defense couldn’t figure out a solution to the Celtics’ red-hot shooting. The Spurs started the game hot, as did their opponent, but ultimately couldn’t keep up. By the time halftime hit, the Spurs looked like they would be in the same position as last game against the Hawks. The third quarter started the same way, too. They got hot, but ultimately, their only offense that was worth mentioning came in transition.

Victor Wembanyama made the crazy, alien plays he usually makes, and Devin Vassell led the charge in terms of being aggressive and getting to the free-throw line. The Celtics showed why they are still one of the best teams in the league despite missing some key players, such as former Spurs guard Derrick White. The Spurs, on the other hand, showed why they still have a way to go. The Celtics finished the game shooting 47% from deep, led by Jrue Holiday with six threes. Wembanyama finished the game with 27 points and five rebounds.

Observations

The game started as a shootout, with both teams going back and forth with no scoreless possessions until the Celtics did three minutes into the game. Jeremy Sochan started the game with a three and an assist on the next offensive possession.

Wembanyama started the game with 10 of the Spurs’ 15 points, with an alley-oop finish and a step-back three added to the mix.

By the time the first timeout came by way of the Spurs, the Celtics were making open three after open three. Their three-point defense struggled, allowing Jaylen Brown, Holiday, and Al Horford to start the game 5/6 from deep.

Somehow, even with the lackluster defense, the Spurs were able to keep the game within three points as the first quarter dwindled down.

Blake Wesley, the defensive star of the last game vs. the Atlanta Hawks, saw his first minutes of the game late in the first.
At the end of the first, Celtics’ Horford found himself in full trouble with two fouls.

At the end of the first, Brown (8 ) and Wembanyama (10) were their team’s respected points leaders.

After two threes by Celtics guard Peyton Pritchard, the Spurs were forced to take a timeout as they trailed 40-29 With nine minutes left in the second quarter.

Like a few games have gone this season, the Spurs started to turn the ball over midway through the second quarter, which resulted in the Celtics starting to pull away after two turnovers on back-to-back offensive possessions. The Celtics were able to extend their lead to 50-33.

After the second quarter, the Celtics were 13/19 from the three-point line as the Spurs struggled to guard the deep ball.
Spurs go into the halftime break trailing 70-45, while Boston closed out the half with some impressive shot-making by Jayson Tatum. Tatum (17) and Wembanyama (14) led their teams in scoring at the half.

Tre Jones had several plays in transition where he showcased his passing ability. One was a great lob to Vassell, and another was a nice bounce pass to Champagnie, which led to a dunk.

Quickly into the third quarter, the Spurs started on a 9-0 run led by Vassell.

The Spurs were quickly able to cut the Celtic’s lead nearly in half from nearly 30 to 15 as the third quarter dwindled down near the four-minute mark.

Late in the third quarter, Vassell was the only Spurs player to attempt a free throw at 6/6 on the night, showing that the Spurs are not being aggressive enough going to the rim as a team.

Wembanyama finished the third with six quick points - two free throws, a euro-step he finished with his left hand, and another play where he put his head down and finished strong.

The Spurs struggled to get anything going in their half-court sets in the fourth quarter. The lead then started to grow even more for the Celtics.

Wembanyama was credited with his first block of the night Midway through the fourth quarter; however, his presence was felt as the Celtics did not challenge him very many times at all. The block came on a fast break chase-down attempt.

Outside of Wembanyama and Vassell, the Spurs only offense really came in transition.

The Spurs pulled their starters with four minutes left in the 4th quarter.

Jrue just steps up. Period. Can't teach that. MIL has to be freaking out. Pritchard looking good and annoying as all get out for the competition. For his size we are getting a lot of bang for our buck with him. Confidentially, he's a nuisance. That's good because Doogie's been slumping from 3Ville lately. But he's learning to go inside for layups when it's Bricksville outside the line. He'll heat back up from deep soon enough.

Again, I think the fact that a SAS team as currently constructed shaved off 18 points of a 30-point lead is indicative that anybody against any team can do it. It's going to happen, like it or not. No matter how good or bad you are. We just don't panic. Glad those days are over. That starts from the top with Brad. That then goes through Joe and to the players. This is very comforting in a world of NBA chaos.

Rest up. DEN coming. Then off to HOU & DAL where hopefully we won't come in unprepared and be embarrassed.

db

Thanks for the heads up, dboss. Get your paycheck ready! I'm going to need it!!

db

dboss wrote:
I want to see the Celtics reach the magic 60 win total.  

If Boston can maintain their home dominance and pick things up a bit on the road (57% win rate) I believe they can get there.

I believe that 60-win target will be close but attainable. IF Porzingis can stay on the floor.