The All-Star break has arrived, and the Celtics appear to be returning to form as they gear up for the second half.
Boston cruised to a 116-103 win over the Spurs on Wednesday and has now won seven of its last eight. Here are 10 takeaways:
1) Jayson Tatum set the tone early.
Tatum, who finished with 32 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists, came out firing and found a rhythm in the opening minutes. He became the first Celtic in the play-by-play era to have 14 points, six rebounds and three assists in a first quarter and played the game on his terms.
He was essentially in cruise control after that, but it was more than enough. Tatum has scored 30-plus points in three straight games for the first time since late December. This has been one of the better stretches of his career, and he’s taking over games with purpose and panache.
2) Kristaps Porzingis was a perfect sidekick.
Porzingis (29 points) seemed to relish the opportunity to go at Victor Wembanyama. He punished him with a series of fakes in the first quarter and won the matchup decisively.
The Celtics are undefeated when Porzingis scores 25 or more points this season, which feels like enough of a sample size to say it’s not a coincidence.
3) Others stepped up with Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday out.
One of the Celtics’ most admirable traits is their ability to keep the operation running smoothly when some of their best players are sidelined.
With Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday out, Sam Hauser and Al Horford seamlessly slid into the starting lineup. Their stats weren’t eye-popping, but they both executed their roles at a high level.
Derrick White had 19 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds. Luke Kornet and Payton Pritchard also contributed, as did newcomer Torrey Craig.
WEDNESDAY’S FINAL SCORES
Jayson Tatum records his 3rd consecutive 30+ PT game to lift the @celtics to their 7th win in 8 games!
Kristaps Porziņģis: 29 PTS, 6 REB
Derrick White: 19 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST pic.twitter.com/dfNLZtSxTp— NBA (@NBA) February 13, 2025
4) Craig looks like an ideal fit.
The Celtics needed a wing who can shoot and defend, and they got one in Craig. Craig is a proven veteran who makes good decisions, helps more than he hurts and fits in well with Boston’s personnel.
Wednesday was a bit of an audition, and he made a strong first impression. Craig hit both of his 3’s to finish with six points and also blocked a shot and added an assist. He didn’t try to do too much, let the game come to him and acted like he had been on the roster for months.
5) They defended Wembanyama well.
Wembanyama (17 points, 13 rebounds) is inevitably going to score, but the Celtics fared relatively well against him, holding him to 7-of-16 shooting.
He had a couple eye-popping moments, but for the most part, the Celtics neutralized him and made him look like any other player. It was a group effort, but Horford deserves the most credit for holding his ground and pressuring the ball.
6) They dominated the glass.
Boston out-rebounded San Antonio, 56-38. Only two Spurs had seven or more boards, while Tatum (14), Horford (10), Pritchard (7), White (7) and Hauser (7) all did their part.
The fact that those three all snagged seven shows a collective buy-in and attention to detail. Rebounding is often largely about effort, and the Celtics displayed plenty of effort Wednesday night.
7) Turnovers were a problem in spurts.
The Celtics played well overall, but turnovers hurt them in stretches.
White had six and Porzingis five, and Boston had 15 as a team. That’s not a brutal number, but it’s a number that could affect a game if a team lets it.
The Celtics managed to not struggle in that area for long periods of time, so it ended up not mattering.
8) They defended the 3 well.
While much is made of the Celtics’ 3-point shooting, 3-point defense can often play as much of a role in determining a game.
The Celtics limited the Spurs to 23.1 percent from distance (9 for 39), including 1 of 11 in the first quarter. Holding a team below 30 percent is often a recipe for success, especially when they hit 18 themselves.
9) They won a home game.
Entering Wednesday, the Celtics had one just three of their last seven games at home, compared to six straight wins on the road.
They managed to shift the trend in the right direction in this one. It was just one game, but the crowd was engaged and energized from the start.
Boston is now 17-10 at home and 22-6 on the road. There’s no logical explanation for it, but their prowess on the road could potentially bode well in an Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cavaliers.
10) They head into the break with momentum.
The first half hasn’t been all rosy, but the Celtics are still 39-16 and in excellent shape overall. You know you’re doing something right as a franchise when everyone is disappointed with a record like that.
But, they appear to be making progress and are playing some of their better basketball of the season. The Celtics aren’t going to win every game, and that’s OK, but they’re awfully tough to beat when they play like this.
