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Celtics vs. Spurs: Score, Highlights, Reaction from 2016 Regular Season
- Updated: December 15, 2016
The San Antonio Spurs have been unstoppable forces on the road this season, but they did some home cooking at the expense of the Boston Celtics on Wednesday with a 108-101 victory.
San Antonio used a strong first quarter and timely responses to every Boston run to control the proceedings. Six different Spurs scored in double figues, led by Kawhi Leonard. Leonard was his typical all-around dominant self with 26 points and six assists, and the Spurs as a whole shot 55 percent from the field with 33 assists on 44 made field goals.
The Spurs moved to 20-5 with the win, although the victory was just their seventh at the AT&T Center. They are an impressive 13-1 on the road and clinched the season sweep over the Celtics after already beating them in Boston on Nov. 25.
Boston has lost three games in a row and fell to 13-12 with the defeat. NBA on ESPN noted it was business as usual for these two teams:
The last time the Celtics beat the Spurs Rondo, Pierce, and KG all had 20+ pts in the game… 11 straight for San Antonio pic.twitter.com/WjXUL8rpjt
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 15, 2016
Each side was playing without a critical member, as the Spurs announced LaMarcus Aldridge was out for rest, while the Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas is still dealing with a groin injury.
Boston’s offense struggled at times without its go-to guard and shot 44 percent from the field. Avery Bradley led the way with 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists on 10-of-16 shooting from the field, while Jae Crowder (15 points), Al Horford (13 points), Terry Rozier (12 points) and Marcus Smart (11 points) chipped in but couldn’t match Bradley’s efficiency at a combined 19-of-49 from the floor.
Leonard had plenty of help from his teammates in the win. Pau Gasol posted a double-double with 17 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, and Tony Parker turned in a formidable fourth quarter on his way to 16 points and seven assists.
Despite the loss, the Celtics jumped out to a quick 11-7 lead, but San Antonio quickly seized control and finished the first quarter on an extended 25-12 run to build a 32-23 advantage. Manu Ginobili (12 points) drilled two straight threes to push a 24-21 lead to 30-21, and San Antonio’s defense …
