Game ID: 22401080
Boston Celtics @ San Antonio Spurs
Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAS 27 25 29 30 111BOS 36 28 30 27 121
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 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Bassey missed 13 since 2/25, out tonight
NEW Wesley 12 to 18 min over the last 4
SAS availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Bassey missed 14 since 2/25, out tonight
NEW Wesley 12 to 18 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Bassey missed 15 since 2/25, out tonight
NEW Wesley 12 to 19 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Bassey missed 16 since 2/25, out tonight
NEW Wesley 12 to 21 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Bassey missed 17 since 2/25, out tonight
NEW Wesley 12 to 20 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 3/30 · back-to-backOUT Bassey missed 18 since 2/25, returns tonight: 10 min (95% of 10)
NEW Wesley 12 to 20 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Biyombo missed 2 since 3/29, returns tonight: 26 min (138% of 19)
BACK Bassey back 3/30 after 18, 10 min since (95% of 10)
NEW Wesley 12 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Mamukelashvili 11 to 16 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 4/02 · back-to-backBACK Biyombo back 4/01 after 2, 26 min since (138% of 19)
BACK Bassey back 3/30 after 18, 10 min since (95% of 10)
NEW Wesley 12 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Mamukelashvili 11 to 17 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Bassey missed 2 since 4/01, returns tonight: 3 min (29% of 10)
BACK Biyombo back 4/01 after 2, 28 min since (152% of 19)
NEW Wesley 12 to 19 min over the last 5
NEW Mamukelashvili 11 to 18 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/21 · 2 days' restOUT Norris missed 6 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 30 min since (112% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 13 min since (115% of 12)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 8 min since (80% of 10)
BOS availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Brown missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Norris missed 7 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 28 min since (105% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 13 min since (112% of 12)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 4 min since (44% of 10)
BOS availability going into 3/24 · back-to-backOUT Brown missed 3 since 3/18, returns tonight: 26 min (75% of 35)
OUT Norris missed 8 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 28 min since (105% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 16 min since (140% of 12)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 7 min since (72% of 10)
NEW Hauser 21 to 29 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Norris missed 9 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Brown back 3/24 after 3, 26 min since (75% of 35)
BACK Porziņģis back 3/15 after 8, 29 min since (107% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 3/15 after 2, 19 min since (161% of 12)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 7 min since (72% of 10)
NEW Hauser 21 to 31 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/29 · 2 days' restOUT Norris missed 10 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Brown back 3/24 after 3, 27 min since (78% of 35)
BACK Craig back 3/18 after 2, 7 min since (70% of 10)
NEW Hauser 21 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Scheierman 12 to 19 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Norris missed 11 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Brown back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (81% of 35)
NEW Hauser 21 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Scheierman 12 to 20 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 2 since 3/29, returns tonight: 19 min (141% of 13)
OUT Norris missed 12 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Craig missed 2 since 3/29, returns tonight: 19 min (189% of 10)
BACK Brown back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (81% of 35)
NEW Hauser 21 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Kornet 18 to 24 min over the last 4
NEW Scheierman 12 to 18 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Norris missed 13 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Brown back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (81% of 35)
BACK Queta back 4/02 after 2, 19 min since (141% of 13)
BACK Craig back 4/02 after 2, 19 min since (189% of 10)
NEW Kornet 18 to 24 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Norris missed 14 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Queta back 4/02 after 2, 10 min since (78% of 13)
BACK Craig back 4/02 after 2, 19 min since (189% of 10)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Vassell at 21 and Castle at 19 a game. One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 102, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 102 a night to San Antonio's 112 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and San Antonio plus-0. Call it Boston 115, San Antonio 111, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/21 vs PHI 128-120 — SAS notes
SAS won 128-120. SAS shot 53% (47 of 89) to PHI's 57%, 19 of 39 from three. Sochan led with 23 (11 of 17); Vassell added 20, Johnson 18. The hinge was Q4, 37-25: SAS came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 8, and the lead reached 16. Castle was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/23 @ TOR 123-89 — SAS notes
SAS won 123-89. SAS shot 48% (41 of 86) to TOR's 38%, 14 of 43 from three, and went to the line 32 times to TOR's 13 — 27 points from the stripe to their 9. SAS turned it over 14 times to TOR's 21. Vassell led with 25 (11 of 14, 3 of 6 from three); Champagnie added 20, Castle 15. The hinge was Q1, 36-16: from level to 20 ahead, and the lead reached 38. Vassell was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
3/25 @ DET 96-122 — SAS notes
SAS lost 96-122. SAS took 13 more shots (91 to 78), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 36% to DET's 56%, 14 of 44 from three. Vassell led with 26 (10 of 21, 6 of 12 from three); Castle added 19, Mamukelashvili 11. Q3 was theirs, 35-28, the deficit cut from 26 to 19, but the other 3 periods went 94-61 against them. Champagnie's -20 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/27 @ CLE 116-124 — SAS notes
SAS lost 116-124. SAS shot 41% (43 of 106) to CLE's 46%, 14 of 43 from three. Vassell led with 22 (7 of 15, 4 of 10 from three); Castle added 22, Johnson 17. Q3 was theirs, 34-32, the deficit cut from 5 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 92-82 against them. Wesley's -19 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/29 vs BOS 111-121 — SAS notes
SAS lost 111-121. SAS shot 44% (38 of 87) to BOS's 48%, 14 of 40 from three, and went to the line 27 times to BOS's 18 — 21 points from the stripe to their 14. SAS turned it over 4 times to BOS's 9. The glass went 35-54 against them. Johnson led with 23 (9 of 12, 2 of 3 from three); Castle added 22, Sochan 18. Q4 was theirs, 30-27, the deficit cut from 13 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 94-81 against them. Vassell's -12 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/30 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Vassell at 21 and Castle at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 108, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Butler III at 19 and Podziemski at 15 a game. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-1 a night and San Antonio minus-5 and the defense, Golden State allowing 108 a night to San Antonio's 115. Call it Golden State 113, San Antonio 112, San Antonio keeping it close.
4/01 vs ORL — 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 110 a night and allowing 121, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Vassell at 20 and Castle at 17 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Biyombo (2 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 100, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Banchero at 29 and Wagner at 24 a game. Without Anthony (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 100 a night to San Antonio's 121 and the glass, where Orlando has been plus-3 a night and San Antonio minus-8. Call it Orlando 111, San Antonio 109, San Antonio keeping it close.
4/02 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 118, shooting 53 percent and 38 from three, 29 free throws a game; Jokić at 42 and Murray at 28 a game. Without Murray (2 straight), Strawther (15 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 126, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Castle at 18 and Vassell at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-2 a night and San Antonio minus-8 and the line, where Denver takes 29 free throws a game to San Antonio's 20. Call it Denver 124, San Antonio 112, Denver by 12.
4/04 vs CLE — 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 110 a night and allowing 123, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Castle at 17 and Johnson at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and Allen at 19 a game. Without Jerome (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-1 a night and San Antonio minus-9. Call it Cleveland 120, San Antonio 115.
3/21 @ UTA 121-99 — BOS notes
BOS won 121-99. BOS shot 46% (45 of 97) to UTA's 45%, 17 of 51 from three. BOS turned it over 10 times to UTA's 17. The glass went 48-38 for them. Porziņģis led with 27 (9 of 15, 3 of 5 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Tatum added 26, Pritchard 18. The hinge was Q1, 35-21: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Kornet was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/23 @ POR 129-116 — BOS notes
BOS won 129-116. BOS shot 55% (48 of 88) to POR's 49%, 23 of 50 from three. Tatum led with 30 (11 of 24, 1 of 7 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Hauser added 24, White 17. The hinge was Q1, 34-24: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/24 @ SAC 113-95 — BOS notes
BOS won 113-95. BOS shot 46% (41 of 90) to SAC's 45%, 19 of 50 from three, and went to the line 20 times to SAC's 11 — 12 points from the stripe to their 9. Tatum led with 25 (8 of 15, 5 of 9 from three, 4 of 8 at the line); Pritchard added 22, Porziņģis 16. The hinge was Q4, 25-17: a lead of 10 became 18, and the lead reached 22. Pritchard was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/26 @ PHX 132-102 — BOS notes
BOS won 132-102. BOS shot 51% (45 of 89) to PHX's 41%, 22 of 52 from three. The glass went 48-38 for them. Porziņģis led with 30 (10 of 15, 4 of 5 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Brown added 24, White 16. The hinge was Q2, 31-16: a lead of 4 became 19, and the lead reached 34. White was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
3/29 @ SAS 121-111 — BOS notes
BOS won 121-111. BOS shot 48% (45 of 94) to SAS's 44%, 17 of 51 from three, and got to the line 18 times to SAS's 27. BOS turned it over 9 times to SAS's 4. The glass went 54-35 for them. Tatum led with 29 (10 of 22, 2 of 9 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Holiday added 21, Kornet 15. The hinge was Q1, 36-27: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Kornet was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/31 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 21 and Bane at 17 a game. Without Jackson (6 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Porziņģis at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to Memphis's 121 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-8 a night and Memphis minus-3. Call it Boston 118, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
4/02 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 105, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Miami comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 98, shooting 53 percent and 47 from three, 18 free throws a game; Herro at 28 and Wiggins at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Wiggins (2 straight), Jović (20 straight), Robinson (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Miami at 47 percent from three to Boston's 38 and the defense, Miami allowing 98 a night to Boston's 105. Call it Boston 113, Miami 109, Miami keeping it close.
4/04 vs PHX — 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 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 24 and Porziņģis at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 129, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Beal (8 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 107 a night to Phoenix's 129 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Phoenix minus-1. Call it Boston 121, Phoenix 109, Boston by 12.
4/06 vs WAS — 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 119 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brown at 23 and Tatum at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 123, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Poole at 22 and Carrington at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Coulibaly (14 straight), George (6 straight), Brogdon (23 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-11 a night and Washington minus-13 and the defense, Boston allowing 109 a night to Washington's 123. Call it Boston 121, Washington 107, Boston by 14.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSBS B. Scheierman
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
JT J. Tatum
KP K. Porziņģis
LK L. Kornet
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
SASBW B. Wesley
CP C. Paul
DV D. Vassell
HB H. Barnes
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
SC S. Castle
SM S. Mamukelashvili
BOS/SAS 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
Tatum's 29 points, 10 rebounds powers Celtics past Spurs for eighth straight victory, 121-111
SAN ANTONIO -- — Jayson Tatum had 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists and the Boston Celtics won their eighth straight, beating the San Antonio Spurs 121-111 on Saturday night.
Jrue Holiday had 21 points, six rebounds and six assists for Boston.
Seven of the eight Celtics who played scored in double figures.
Keldon Johnson had 23 points and Stephon Castle added 22 points as the Spurs lost their third straight.
The Celtics trailed for just 15 seconds early in the first quarter.
San Antonio is 8-13 since Victor Wembanyama was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right shoulder that ended his season and 4-5 since De'Aaron Fox was lost for the season with a torn tendon in his pinkie.
San Antonio dropped the opener of a three-game homestand and the first of a back-to-back.
Jeremy Sochan added 18 points for the Spurs.
Takeaways Celtics: Luke Kornet had 15 points and 16 rebounds against the undersized Spurs. Kornet was 7 for 10 from the field.
Spurs: Castle has shared or led San Antonio in scoring in eight games this season, including three of the last 12 games. Castle was 7 for 18 from the field but only 1 for 7 on 3-pointers.
Key moment Boston was 8 for 17 on 3-pointers in the first quarter in building a 36-27 lead. The Spurs to 4-for-13 shooting from behind the arc in the opening quarter.
Key stat Boston (55-19) improved its league-best road record to 31-7.