On an evening the place the Celtics had been with out Payton Pritchard and Jaylen Brown was ejected, the Celtics had been trying to find offense. They discovered it from a profession excessive 22 factors from Ron Harper Jr. Nonetheless, it was not sufficient as Victor Wembanyama dominated and the Spurs made 20 three tips to beat the Celtics, 125-116.
The Celtics had been with out two key bench items in Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic. They began their new regulars; Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta. The Spurs had been lacking Harrison Barnes and Lindy Waters. Additionally they began their regulars; De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Fort, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie and Victor Wembanyama.
It was a chilly begin for the Celtics, who missed 6 of their first 7 photographs. The Spurs jumped out to a 11-3 lead. Nonetheless, the Celtics then settled into the sport as Jaylen Brown took over. He had 4 factors, 2 assists and a pair of steals within the first 5 minutes of the sport.
We had the Harper brothers going at it within the first quarter as Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan Harper shared the ground as opponents for the primary time in an everyday season NBA recreation.
The Celtics led on the finish of the primary quarter, 31-29. Derrick White led the workforce with 7 factors whereas Boston’s Harper (Ron Jr.) had 5 factors of his personal off of the bench.
I discovered it attention-grabbing that Joe Mazzulla matched Neemias Queta’s minutes with previous buddy Luke Kornet and Luka Garza’s minutes to Victor Wembanyama. It was seemingly in an effort to tug Wemby away from the basket with Garza’s capturing and open up extra driving lanes.
Jaylen Brown acquired thrown out of the sport with a double technical after he thought he was pushed out of bounds and didn’t get the decision. He acquired some leeway at first however get yelling till he acquired not just one technical foul however two and was ejected from the sport.
Then once more, Tyler Ford was officiating the sport.
It was Ford’s smug response that set Brown off. He is constantly that manner and it is why gamers cannot stand him.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) March 11, 2026
The groups had been tied at halftime, 58-58. Derrick White led the workforce with 13 factors whereas Jaylen Brown had 8 factors and seven assists earlier than he was ejected.
Jayson Tatum was 4/14 within the first half with 10 factors however I believed he performed properly. The shot will come, it simply isn’t falling but, however he acquired good photographs and continued to make all the proper reads.
D-White had it going for the Celtics within the third quarter, he had 11 factors within the first 5 minutes of the quarter. A Tatum layup put the Celtics up 76-75.
White simply saved the Celtics inside hanging distance all through the third quarter, he had 19 factors within the quarter to maintain the Celtics within the combat because the Spurs saved draining threes.
The Celtics trailed by 7 on the finish of three quarters, 97-90. D-White led the workforce with 32 factors whereas Jayson Tatum had 14 and Ron Harper Jr. had 11 of his personal.
Tatum had the primary 7 factors of the quarter for the Celtics to make the sport 100-97.
The Celtics had been in a position to get the celebrity to a 1 level spits lead however a 12-0 Spurs run recreation them a 13-point lead with 3 minutes to go.
On an NBA night time that belonged to Bam Adebayo and his 83 factors, this recreation belonged to Victor Wembanyama. Wemby scored 39 factors with 11 rebounds and a pair of blocks whereas hitting 8 three pointers, tying a profession excessive, within the recreation.
Derrick White gave 34 factors, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, Jayson Tatum gave 24 factors, 5 rebounds and a pair of steals and Ron Harper Jr. gave 22 factors, 3 rebounds and a pair of assists however it was not sufficient because the Celtics fell to the Spurs. 125-116.
Boston shot 47% from the sector and 37% from three whereas San Antonio shot 52% from the sector and 43% from three. The Celtics subsequent recreation is Thursday night time in Oklahoma Metropolis in opposition to the Thunder at 9:30 EST.
