BOSTON — The Celtics didn’t let the upcoming All-Star break lull them into putting out a poor product on their home court. Instead, they beat the Spurs 116-103 on Wednesday at TD Garden, completing the first half of their regular season. The C’s improved to 39-16 while the Spurs dropped to 23-29.
While the Spurs stuck strong through the middle parts of the first quarter, the Celtics sprinted ahead on a 30-8 run. The Spurs offense failed to generate quality looks as the C’s lead peaked at 24 points in the first half. Jayson Tatum poured in 21 points in the first half as it was all Celtics to the delight of the Garden crowd.
C’s fans also got a first glimpse at Torrey Craig, fresh off signing with the team over the weekend. The Spurs did trim the C’s lead down to single-digits early in the fourth quarter as there were some murmurs from the crowd. But the Celtics, missing Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday, didn’t let the Spurs mount a serious comeback threat.
Tatum finished with 32 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists Wednesday while Kristaps Porzingis added 29 points. Derrick White also had 19 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. All-Star Victor Wembanyama had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs; De’Aaron Fox also added 23 points and five assists.
The Celtics now get the next week off for the All-Star break. They return to action Feb. 20 against the 76ers in Philadelphia to open the second half of the season. Here are four takeaways from Boston’s win over San Antonio:
Entering the break: The Celtics didn’t let the Spurs seriously threaten the end result, winning for the seventh time over their last eight games. They’ve shook off the January malaise that resulted in some poor play, heating up ahead of the break. Notably, they also won at home which hasn’t been a guarantee so far this season, improving to 17-10 at the Garden. It wasn’t all smooth Wednesday, but the effort was enough to overcome the Spurs.
Making the debut: Not only did Craig play his first minutes as a Celtic, but it was also his first game action since Dec. 30. An ankle injury slowed him down, keeping him out for weeks when he was a member of the Bulls. But the wing was able to get in his debut ahead of the break, finishing with six points in nine minutes. He had some nice defensive moments, too, as the Celtics hope the 6-foot-8 wing can provide minutes like he did Wednesday going forward.
Keeping in check: Wembanyama has showcased game-changing talent just two years into the league. But the C’s kept him largely under control throughout Wednesday’s game, though he still got his shots up. The All-Star finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds, but shot 7-for-16 on field goals, including a 1-for-6 mark on 3-pointers. Wembanyama still affected shots inside as his 7-foot-3 frame towers over others. But for the most part, Wembanyama didn’t dominate the game like he’s capable of doing on any given night.
Imperfect night: The Celtics didn’t win at all the margins Wednesday, allowing the Spurs to stay in the game longer than expected. They turned the ball over 17 times, leading to 22 points for the Spurs. Plus, they were 14-for-21 from the free throw line. But the Celtics dominated the boards, outrebounding the Spurs 69-43. They also had the 14-6 edge in second-chance points. So the C’s could’ve played cleaner, which they’ll look to fix after the break.
