The All-Star break has arrived, and the Celtics look like returning to kind as they gear up for the second half.
Boston cruised to a 116-103 win over the Spurs on Wednesday and has now received seven of its final eight. Listed here are 10 takeaways:
1) Jayson Tatum set the tone early.
Tatum, who completed with 32 factors, 14 rebounds and seven assists, got here out firing and located a rhythm within the opening minutes. He turned the primary Celtic within the play-by-play period to have 14 factors, six rebounds and three assists in a primary quarter and performed the sport on his phrases.
He was basically in cruise management after that, however it was greater than sufficient. Tatum has scored 30-plus factors in three straight video games for the primary time since late December. This has been one of many higher stretches of his profession, and he’s taking on video games with goal and panache.
2) Kristaps Porzingis was an ideal sidekick.
Porzingis (29 factors) appeared to relish the chance to go at Victor Wembanyama. He punished him with a sequence of fakes within the first quarter and received the matchup decisively.
The Celtics are undefeated when Porzingis scores 25 or extra factors this season, which appears like sufficient of a pattern dimension to say it’s not a coincidence.
3) Others stepped up with Jaylen Brown and Jrue Vacation out.
One of many Celtics’ most admirable traits is their means to maintain the operation operating easily when a few of their finest gamers are sidelined.
With Jaylen Brown and Jrue Vacation out, Sam Hauser and Al Horford seamlessly slid into the beginning lineup. Their stats weren’t eye-popping, however they each executed their roles at a excessive stage.
Derrick White had 19 factors, 9 assists and seven rebounds. Luke Kornet and Payton Pritchard additionally contributed, as did newcomer Torrey Craig.
WEDNESDAY’S FINAL SCORES
Jayson Tatum information his third consecutive 30+ PT recreation to raise the @celtics to their seventh win in 8 video games!
Kristaps Porziņģis: 29 PTS, 6 REBDerrick White: 19 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST pic.twitter.com/dfNLZtSxTp
— NBA (@NBA) February 13, 2025
4) Craig seems to be like a great match.
The Celtics wanted a wing who can shoot and defend, and so they received one in Craig. Craig is a confirmed veteran who makes good selections, helps greater than he hurts and suits in nicely with Boston’s personnel.
Wednesday was a little bit of an audition, and he made a robust first impression. Craig hit each of his 3’s to complete with six factors and in addition blocked a shot and added an help. He didn’t attempt to do an excessive amount of, let the sport come to him and acted like he had been on the roster for months.
5) They defended Wembanyama nicely.
Wembanyama (17 factors, 13 rebounds) is inevitably going to attain, however the Celtics fared comparatively nicely in opposition to him, holding him to 7-of-16 taking pictures.
He had a pair eye-popping moments, however for essentially the most half, the Celtics neutralized him and made him appear to be some other participant. It was a bunch effort, however Horford deserves essentially the most credit score for holding his floor and pressuring the ball.
6) They dominated the glass.
Boston out-rebounded San Antonio, 56-38. Solely two Spurs had seven or extra boards, whereas Tatum (14), Horford (10), Pritchard (7), White (7) and Hauser (7) all did their half.
The truth that these three all snagged seven exhibits a collective buy-in and a focus to element. Rebounding is commonly largely about effort, and the Celtics displayed loads of effort Wednesday night time.
7) Turnovers had been an issue in spurts.
The Celtics performed nicely total, however turnovers harm them in stretches.
White had six and Porzingis 5, and Boston had 15 as a crew. That’s not a brutal quantity, however it’s a quantity that would have an effect on a recreation if a crew lets it.
The Celtics managed to not wrestle in that space for lengthy durations of time, so it ended up not mattering.
8) They defended the three nicely.
Whereas a lot is made from the Celtics’ 3-point taking pictures, 3-point protection can usually play as a lot of a task in figuring out a recreation.
The Celtics restricted the Spurs to 23.1 % from distance (9 for 39), together with 1 of 11 within the first quarter. Holding a crew beneath 30 % is commonly a recipe for fulfillment, particularly after they hit 18 themselves.
9) They received a house recreation.
Getting into Wednesday, the Celtics had one simply three of their final seven video games at dwelling, in comparison with six straight wins on the street.
They managed to shift the pattern in the appropriate route on this one. It was only one recreation, however the crowd was engaged and energized from the beginning.
Boston is now 17-10 at dwelling and 22-6 on the street. There’s no logical clarification for it, however their prowess on the street might doubtlessly bode nicely in an Jap Convention Finals sequence in opposition to the Cavaliers.
10) They head into the break with momentum.
The primary half hasn’t been all rosy, however the Celtics are nonetheless 39-16 and in glorious form total. You already know you’re doing one thing proper as a franchise when everyone seems to be disenchanted with a file like that.
However, they seem like making progress and are enjoying a few of their higher basketball of the season. The Celtics aren’t going to win each recreation, and that’s OK, however they’re awfully robust to beat after they play like this.
