Game ID: 22300448
Boston Celtics @ San Antonio Spurs
Sunday, December 31, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAS 22 31 23 25 101BOS 30 35 40 29 134
BOS @ SAS ScoutingBOS @ SAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
SAS availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 2 since 12/19, returns tonight: 8 min (61% of 14)
BACK Wesley back 12/15 after 4, 2 min since (16% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 12/19 after 6, 10 min since (83% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 12/21 after 12, 3 min since (24% of 12)
NEW Branham 21 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Barlow missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wesley back 12/15 after 4, 6 min since (38% of 14)
BACK Graham back 12/15 after 6, 8 min since (61% of 14)
BACK Cissoko back 12/21 after 12, 9 min since (74% of 12)
NEW Branham 21 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Barlow missed 3 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wesley back 12/21 after 2, 8 min since (58% of 14)
BACK Graham back 12/23 after 2, 8 min since (61% of 14)
BACK Cissoko back 12/21 after 12, 6 min since (55% of 12)
SAS availability going into 12/29 · back-to-backOUT Graham missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 4 since 12/21, returns tonight: 14 min (112% of 13)
BACK Wesley back 12/21 after 2, 6 min since (45% of 14)
BACK Cissoko back 12/21 after 12, 6 min since (55% of 12)
SAS availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 3 since 12/26, returns tonight: 8 min (59% of 14)
OUT Cissoko missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 8 min (68% of 12)
BACK Wesley back 12/21 after 2, 6 min since (45% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 12/29 after 4, 14 min since (112% of 13)
SAS availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restBACK Graham back 12/23 after 2, 8 min since (60% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 12/29 after 4, 13 min since (106% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 12/31 after 2, 8 min since (68% of 12)
SAS availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
BACK Graham back 12/31 after 3, 8 min since (59% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 12/29 after 4, 14 min since (107% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 12/31 after 2, 8 min since (68% of 12)
SAS availability going into 1/07 · 2 days' restOUT Collins missed 3 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 2 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 2 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Barlow back 12/29 after 4, 14 min since (109% of 13)
SAS availability going into 1/10 · 2 days' restOUT Collins missed 4 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT McDermott missed 2 since 1/04, returns tonight: 15 min (99% of 15)
OUT Graham missed 3 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 3 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Barlow back 12/29 after 4, 16 min since (122% of 13)
BOS availability going into 12/23 · 2 days' restOUT Kornet missed 5 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Queta back 12/15 after 4, 19 min since (166% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 12/15 after 2, 10 min since (96% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 6 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Queta back 12/15 after 4, 19 min since (174% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 12/15 after 2, 12 min since (112% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/28 · 2 days' restOUT Kornet missed 7 since 12/14, out tonight
NEW Queta 11 to 17 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 12/29 · back-to-backOUT Kornet missed 8 since 12/14, returns tonight: 33 min (227% of 15)
NEW Queta 11 to 18 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restBACK Kornet back 12/29 after 8, 33 min since (227% of 15)
NEW Queta 11 to 17 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restBACK Kornet back 12/29 after 8, 25 min since (169% of 15)
BOS availability going into 1/05 · 2 days' restBACK Kornet back 12/29 after 8, 22 min since (146% of 15)
BOS availability going into 1/06 · back-to-backBACK Kornet back 12/29 after 8, 19 min since (129% of 15)
BOS availability going into 1/08 · 1 day's restBACK Kornet back 12/29 after 8, 18 min since (125% of 15)
NEW Brissett 10 to 18 min over the last 4
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 125, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Johnson at 18 and Vassell at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 133 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Porziņģis at 29 and Tatum at 29 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and San Antonio minus-6 and the defense, Boston allowing 116 a night to San Antonio's 125. Call it Boston 124, San Antonio 115.
12/23 @ DAL 119-144 — SAS notes
SAS lost 119-144. SAS shot 45% (44 of 98) to DAL's 52%, 14 of 45 from three. The glass went 42-52 against them. Sochan led with 23 (9 of 16, 4 of 6 from three); Johnson added 16, Collins 14. Q4 was theirs, 33-27, the deficit cut from 31 to 25, but the other 3 periods went 117-86 against them. Vassell's -38 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs UTA 118-130 — SAS notes
SAS lost 118-130. SAS shot 45% (44 of 98) to UTA's 49%, 16 of 35 from three. SAS turned it over 9 times to UTA's 14. The glass went 43-53 against them. Johnson led with 26 (9 of 20, 3 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Vassell added 22, Sochan 19. Q1 was theirs, 32-27, but the other 3 periods went 103-86 against them. They led by as many as 15. Sochan's -15 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/28 @ POR 118-105 — SAS notes
SAS won 118-105. SAS shot 48% (41 of 85) to POR's 35%, 10 of 36 from three. The glass went 42-57 against them. Wembanyama led with 30 (9 of 14, 2 of 4 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Vassell added 17, Sochan 16. The hinge was Q1, 38-14: from level to 24 ahead, and the lead reached 28. Vassell was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
12/29 @ POR 128-134 — SAS notes
SAS lost 128-134. SAS shot 51% (48 of 94) to POR's 51%, 14 of 33 from three. Johnson led with 29 (9 of 18, 3 of 8 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Vassell added 22, McDermott 18. Q3 was theirs, 38-33, the deficit cut from 15 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 101-90 against them. Branham's -24 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/31 vs BOS 101-134 — SAS notes
SAS lost 101-134. SAS shot 43% (40 of 94) to BOS's 54%, 12 of 45 from three, and got to the line 12 times to BOS's 22. The glass went 39-57 against them. Vassell led with 22 (9 of 15, 2 of 4 from three); Wembanyama added 21, Branham 11. Q2 was theirs, 31-35, but the other 3 periods went 99-70 against them. Vassell's -34 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bane at 24 and Morant at 24 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Jackson (7 straight), LaRavia (7 straight), Gilyard (2 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 129, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 22 and Johnson at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the defense, Memphis allowing 123 a night to San Antonio's 129. Call it Memphis 118, San Antonio 115, San Antonio keeping it close.
1/04 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 22 and Johnson at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Collins (2 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 125, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 31 and Lillard at 22 a game. Without Crowder (25 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Milwaukee wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Milwaukee has been minus-1 a night and San Antonio minus-10. Call it Milwaukee 122, San Antonio 119, San Antonio keeping it close.
1/07 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Allen at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Garland (10 straight), Eva. Mobley (14 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 24 and Vassell at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Collins (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-11 a night and San Antonio minus-8 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 109 a night to San Antonio's 121. Call it Cleveland 120, San Antonio 110, Cleveland by 10.
1/10 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 133, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bogdanović at 20 and Burks at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Stewart (7 straight), Bagley III (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 23 and Vassell at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Collins (4 straight), McDermott (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 123 a night to Detroit's 133 and the arc, Detroit at 39 percent from three to San Antonio's 34. Call it Detroit 120, San Antonio 119, San Antonio keeping it close.
12/23 @ LAC 145-108 — BOS notes
BOS won 145-108. BOS shot 52% (49 of 94) to LAC's 46%, 25 of 53 from three, and went to the line 28 times to LAC's 15 — 22 points from the stripe to their 15. The glass went 51-34 for them. Tatum led with 30 (9 of 16, 5 of 10 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Brown added 24, Holiday 20. The hinge was Q4, 39-27: a lead of 25 became 37. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
12/25 @ LAL 126-115 — BOS notes
BOS won 126-115. BOS shot 51% (46 of 91) to LAL's 48%, 13 of 42 from three, and went to the line 28 times to LAL's 21 — 21 points from the stripe to their 16. Porziņģis led with 28 (11 of 19, 2 of 8 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); Tatum added 25, Brown 19. The hinge was Q1, 32-23: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Porziņģis was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/28 vs DET 128-122 — BOS notes
BOS won 128-122 in 1 overtime. BOS shot 48% (48 of 99) to DET's 48%, 11 of 39 from three, and went to the line 25 times to DET's 19 — 21 points from the stripe to their 12. BOS turned it over 12 times to DET's 18. The glass went 43-57 against them. Porziņģis led with 35 (13 of 21, 3 of 9 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Tatum added 31, White 23. The hinge was Q3, 35-16: BOS came in trailing by 19 and left it level. BOS trailed 47-66 at the half and won the second half 81-56. Porziņģis was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/29 vs TOR 120-118 — BOS notes
BOS won 120-118. BOS shot 49% (43 of 88) to TOR's 46%, 17 of 39 from three. BOS turned it over 16 times to TOR's 4, and TOR turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 52-38 for them. Brown led with 31 (11 of 16, 5 of 6 from three); White added 21, Kornet 20. The hinge was Q1, 35-20: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/31 @ SAS 134-101 — BOS notes
BOS won 134-101. BOS shot 54% (51 of 95) to SAS's 43%, 15 of 42 from three, and went to the line 22 times to SAS's 12 — 17 points from the stripe to their 9. The glass went 57-39 for them. Tatum led with 25 (10 of 17, 5 of 10 from three); Brown added 24, White 17. The hinge was Q3, 40-23: a lead of 12 became 29, and the lead reached 37. Porziņģis was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
1/02 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 111, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Porziņģis at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-7 a night and OKC minus-1 and the line, where Boston takes 25 free throws a game to OKC's 19. Call it OKC 119, Boston 118, Boston keeping it close.
1/05 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Porziņģis at 28 and Tatum at 28 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Markkanen at 23 and Sexton at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Hendricks (4 straight), Horton-Tucker (3 straight), Juzang (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Boston 122, Utah 116.
1/06 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 135 a night and allowing 118, shooting 55 percent and 41 from three, 26 free throws a game; Haliburton at 22 and Turner at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Nembhard (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Tatum at 29 and Porziņģis at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 41 percent from three to Boston's 36 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-5 a night and Indiana plus-0. Call it Indiana 123, Boston 121, Boston keeping it close.
1/08 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 121, shooting 53 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Haliburton at 21 and Mathurin at 20 a game. Without Nembhard (3 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Tatum at 31 and Brown at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-12 a night and Indiana minus-4 and the defense, Boston allowing 109 a night to Indiana's 121. Call it Boston 122, Indiana 120, Indiana keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASBW B. Wesley
CO C. Osman
DB D. Barlow
DG D. Graham
DM D. McDermott
DV D. Vassell
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
MB M. Branham
SC S. Cissoko
SM S. Mamukelashvili
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
BOSAH A. Horford
DB D. Banton
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JT J. Tatum
KP K. Porziņģis
LK L. Kornet
LS L. Stevens
NQ N. Queta
OB O. Brissett
PP P. Pritchard
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
SM S. Mykhailiuk
SAS/BOS the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Celtics extend winning streak to 6 games with a 134-101 rout of the Spurs
SAN ANTONIO -- — Jayson Tatum scored 25 points, Jaylen Brown added 24 and the Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to six games with a 134-101 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night.
Derrick White scored 17 points against his former team, and Kristaps Porzingis added 14 points and nine rebounds in his return after missing one game due to a calf injury.
“We got stops,” Boston coach joe 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.”
Devin Vassell scored 22 points and Victor Wembanyama had 21 points and seven rebounds for San Antonio. The Spurs have lost seven of eight.
“They are a championship-caliber team, that’s what they are out there for, that’s their goal, and they proved it once again,” San Antonio coach Gregg 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.”
Boston closed out the month of December with a 12-2 record.
The matchup between the top team in the Eastern Conference and the last-place team in the West played out as expected.
“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.”
Boston led by as many as 37 points and sat its starters for most of the fourth quarter.
San Antonio never led while trailing by 35 points or more in a game for the sixth time this season.
Zach Collins sat out with a sprained ankle and lower back spasms kept Keldon Johnson out of the game. The Spurs’ offense struggled without the duo.
Wembanyama and Vassell scored San Antonio’s first 17 points. The pair combined to shoot 5 for 20 from the field in the opening quarter. The rest of the Spurs went 2 for 14. San Antonio finished 12 for 44 from 3-point range.
Wembanyama provided some of the few highlights for Spurs fans. The 7-foot-3 rookie followed up a reverse slam off an alley-oop pass from Tre Jones with a 3-pointer that cut Boston’s lead to 38-29 in the second quarter.
Wembanyama also took off from the free throw line while holding the ball over his head for a one-handed dunk against White.
“I’m not an idiot,” White said, chuckling afterwards. “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.”
Boston limited San Antonio to one offensive rebound in the first half, and held a 23-14 advantage in total rebounds.
The Celtics had six players score in double figures.
Spurs second-year player Malaki Branham (11 points) was the only player, aside from Wembanyama and Vassell, to score in double figures.