Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Here's What Stood Out as Tatum and Brown Combined for 45 Points, Propelling Celtics Past Wembanyama and the Spurs
The Boston Celtics improved to 32-9 this season, earning a 117-98 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
They're now 20-0 at home in the 2023-24 campaign, improving the franchise record they've already established for the best start to a season in games played on the parquet.
There was considerable buzz inside TD Garden for this year's first overall pick, Victor Wembanyama's Boston debut. The rookie phenom entered this matchup as one of two players averaging at least 15 points, ten rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks, the other being Anthony Davis.
The burgeoning star finished with 27 points on 19 shots, five rebounds, a block, and five turnovers.
However, the hosts did an excellent job protecting the perimeter and walling off drives, translating to the visitors shooting 7/34 (20.6 percent) from beyond the arc, 41.9 percent from the field, and registering 25 points or fewer in three of four quarters.
Now for a deep dive into what stood out, including an individual maximizing his minutes off the bench as Jayson Tatum put a team-high 24 points on the board, Jrue Holiday registered 22, and Jaylen Brown produced 21, propelling the Celtics to a third-straight victory and their seventh in their last ten tilts.
1. With Kristaps Porzingis inactive due to right knee inflammation and Derrick White unavailable because of a left ankle sprain, not only did Al Horford slide into the starting lineup, but Joe Mazzulla opened Wednesday's game with a double-big combination featuring Horford and Luke Kornet.
And when Mazzulla incorporated the second unit into the matchup, he let Neemias Queta fly solo, operating as the lone Boston big on the floor. The 24-year-old center from Portugal often plays alongside Horford.
2. While the hosts gave up 14 points in the paint and six on-second-chance opportunities off of four offensive rebounds, they also limited a Spurs team that struggles shooting from above the break to 3/11 (27.3 percent) from three-point range in the first frame.
Conversely, the Celtics buried 5/10 attempts from beyond the arc and got 15 points combined from Jaylen Brown (8) and Jayson Tatum (7), taking a 30-25 advantage into the second quarter.
3. The next 12 minutes were when Boston broke the game open, outscoring San Antonio 40-20 to build a 70-45 halftime lead. That's the team's third-largest edge at the break this season.
The hosts remained red-hot from three-point range against a defense that provided minimal resistance. They drilled 13/19 (68.4 percent) of their shots from behind the arc in the first 24 minutes. And they had a 60 percent conversion rate from the field.
At the other end of the floor, the Celtics remained engaged and unfazed by the score or the choppy pace of play and lack of flow, limiting the visitors to 38.8 percent shooting in the first half, including 4/20 (20 percent) from three-point range.
4. The opening half also provided a pair of "Welcome to the NBA" moments for this year's No. 1 pick, Victor Wembanyama.
The first came when Neemias Queta plowed through his chest, knocking the burgeoning star to the floor before flushing home a one-handed jam.
The next came when Tatum, who entered intermission with 17 points, leading all scorers, came off a high-ball screen, froze Wembanyama, then utilized a clear path to the rim to take off, finishing above the cylinder.
But to the rookie phenom's credit, he put 14 points on the board in the first half.
5. The hosts weren't as engaged in the third frame, getting outscored 33-24, but a player who made his presence felt was Queta.
Whether it was setting effective screens to set up teammates, namely Tatum, to score, grabbing a pair of offensive rebounds, including one where fought for the ball, then went in for a one-handed dunk, forcing another foul fighting for a miss that extended a possession and led to two points at the line for Payton Pritchard, Queta's effort, infusion of energy, and execution were made even more impressive by him being out there as the lone center on the floor, instead of having Horford alongside him.
His play helped Boston enter the final 12 minutes with a commanding 94-78 advantage.
6. As the Celtics maintained control of a game never in doubt, two noteworthy developments in the final frame were Wembanyama slightly exceeding his 25-minute restriction, logging 26:36. He finished with 27 points on 19 shots, five rebounds, a block, and five turnovers.
The other was fellow rookie Jordan Walsh making his NBA debut, receiving a loud ovation from the TD Garden faithful as he checked in with 3:03 left in Wednesday's win.
7. The Celtics are on to a Friday night tilt against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. That game will take place at TD Garden and tip-off at 7:30 EST.
Further Reading
Fixated on Winning, Jayson Tatum Again Proves He's Not 'Bored Making the Right Play Over and Over'
Ime Udoka Shares How He Felt After Celtics Suspended Him: 'We've Talked It Out'
Marcus Smart in Danger of Missing Return to Boston
Jrue Holiday Responds to Celtics Saying He's Sacrificing Most: 'Not Mad at My Situation'
Brad Stevens Shares What Celtics Are Looking to Add and How He Hopes to Do So
Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'
Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'
Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'
