Final: Spurs 120, Celtics 111 -- Third quarter disaster leads to ugly loss

After putting together a solid opening 24 minutes in an arena they haven’t won since 2011, the Celtics fell apart in the third period against a relentless Spurs offense. San Antonio shot 76 percent during the frame thanks to big outings from LaMarcus Aldridge (32 points) and Derrick White (career-high 22 points) to post the most points by a Boston opponent in a quarter (46) since 2000. The Celtics were never able to get stops the rest of the way consistently (74 second half points for Spurs) which enabled to hosts to ride comfortably to the win despite a season-high 30 points from Jaylen Brown.

First Half Notes

• The Celtics generally have struggled all season long with Kyrie Irving out of the lineup, but they did the majority of their damage in the first half with him on the bench thanks to Jaylen Brown


• The third-year guard led all scorers with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting in just 13 minutes, attacking the rim with a few pretty takes.


• C's moving the ball very unselfish thus far (13 assists on 20 made baskets)


• Irving (5 points, 4 assists) and Tatum (8 points, 7 rebounds) doing the little things early to help keep team rolling on both ends.


• LaMarcus Aldridge got off to a very slow start but bounced back in the second quarter against Boston's second unit to score 15 points.


• Gordon Hayward's 3-point shooting woes (0-of-4) continue.

• The Celtics have gone 0-5 in San Antonio during the Brad Stevens era, including a buzzer-beating loss courtesy of Manu Ginobili last season. The last time Boston won in San Antonio was 2011.


• Robert Williams (sore groin) and Aron Baynes remains sidelined for the C's. Rudy Gay is questionable for the Spurs while Pau Gasol is out.


• This will be the first game for DeMar DeRozan against the Celtics not wearing a Raptors uniform in his career. He averaged 21 ppg last season against Boston. "If you watched him against us in the past, it's been brutal," Brad Stevens said.


• San Antonio has arguably been the hottest team in the West during the month of December, going 10-5 as they pulled themselves back into the playoff picture in the West.


• Marcus Morris is four made free throws away from entering the 50/40/90 club.