San Antonio, TX – Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominant performance, scoring 39 points with eight 3-pointers and 11 rebounds, to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 125-116 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night. The win marked the Spurs’ fifth consecutive victory and their 16th in the last 17 games, solidifying their position as a rising contender in the NBA.
The game, played at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, featured a compelling matchup between two of the league’s top teams. Though, the evening was significantly impacted by the early ejection of Boston’s leading scorer, Jaylen Brown, who accumulated only eight points before being dismissed with 3:38 remaining in the second quarter although the Celtics held a two-point lead.
Entering the fourth quarter with a seven-point advantage, the Spurs saw their lead shrink to just one point, 106-105, before Wembanyama took over. He responded with a powerful dunk followed by a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions, his eighth of the game, extending San Antonio’s lead to eight with 5:57 left to play.
This sparked a 12-0 run that included additional jump shots from Devin Vassell and a free throw, pushing the Spurs’ advantage to 13 points. From that point forward, San Antonio maintained control, securing the win and completing a season sweep of the Celtics.
De’Aaron Fox contributed 25 points for the Spurs, while Stephon Castle added 18 and Vassell finished with 14. The Celtics were led by Derrick White, who scored 34 points and Jayson Tatum, who had 24 points in his third game back from a right Achilles tendon injury sustained in May of the previous year. Ron Harper Jr. Added a career-high 22 points, and Sam Hauser chipped in with 11.
The first quarter saw a back-and-forth battle, with the Spurs building an early lead of up to eight points. Boston responded, taking a seven-point advantage of their own and finishing the period ahead 31-29.
The game took a significant turn in the second quarter when Brown was ejected after receiving two technical fouls for vehemently disputing a non-call while being pushed out of bounds. It was only the second ejection of Brown’s career.
Wembanyama’s free throws with 3:26 remaining before halftime tied the game at 51. Boston regained the lead, and a pair of free throws from White at 1:40 put the Celtics up 58-54. San Antonio closed the half strong, scoring the final four points to tie the game at 58.
Wembanyama led all scorers in the first half with 15 points, while Fox added 13 and Castle contributed 10. White paced the Celtics with 13 points, and Tatum had 10.
The Spurs’ recent success, including this victory over a top Eastern Conference team, underscores their development under coach Gregg Popovich. The team’s ability to consistently find scoring options beyond Wembanyama is a key factor in their current winning streak. For a team that entered the season with low expectations, their current form is a testament to the growth of their young core.
The Celtics, meanwhile, will look to rebound from this loss as they continue their road trip. Tatum’s continued integration back into the lineup after his injury is crucial for Boston’s championship aspirations. The team’s reliance on White and Tatum for scoring was evident in this game, and finding more consistent offensive contributions from other players will be essential moving forward.
What’s Next: The Boston Celtics will continue their three-game road trip against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. The San Antonio Spurs will return home to face the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
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