Final: Spurs 115, Celtics 96 -- Aldridge puts on a show in blowout win.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 48 points as the Spurs handed the Celtics their worst home loss of the year, a 115-96 drubbing at the TD Garden on Sunday night. The hosts were dismal on the offensive end all night long, shooting 39 percent from the field and 17.6 percent from 3-point range, digging themselves an early hole in the first quarter that only grew as the game wore on.

With Al Horford (sore knee) sidelined for the second straight game, the Celtics also had no answer for Aldridge who posted 48 points and 13 rebounds against a variety of mismatches all night long. Marcus Smart had a team-high 14 points for Boston, who have now tied their season-high with a four-game losing streak. They currently sit two games behind the Pacers for the No. 4 seed with eight games to play.

Second Quarter Notes

• Hayward showing some solid aggression while leading bench unit at the start of the second quarter, getting to the free throw line four times.


• Rozier getting burned early on D while matching up against Mills, losing track of him while trying to give help.


• Celtics bench has missed their first seven shots of the game.


• Spurs have grabbed seven offensive rebounds already while putting the C’s into tough defensive rotations and thank to their undersized lineups.


• Spurs second unit just dominating Boston’s undermanned corps at the start of the second frame, taking advantage of their size edge after switches for good looks for the likes of Gay, DeRozan and Belinelli.


• C’s defense continues to show very little cohesion and a lack of an interior presence is telling as well.


• Celtics fall behind by as many as 12 in the first half, but the starters plus Theis help to trim it down to seven at half.


• C’s open 2-of-17 from 3-point range, and just 38 percent from the field in the first half, surviving off of free throws (13) and second chance points (9) early

• Hot shooting start for Marcus Morris, who knocks down his first three shots from the field.


• Aron Baynes gets a quick rest early due to a minutes limit. Guerschon Yabusele gets the call to match up with Aldridge first off the bench.


• Aldridge doing work against Morris and Baynes in the post early, knocking down five of his first seven shots.


• Poeltl having his way on offensive glass early.


• Aldridge has 14 of first 18 points for Spurs.

• The Celtics will be without Al Horford for the second straight game due to a sore left knee. He'll be joined on the sidelines by Robert Williams (back contusion). Jayson Tatum is also doubtful to play after taking a hard fall on his back in the closing moments of Saturday's loss to the Hornets.


• Gordon Hayward (concussion) is expected to return after missing the past three games. Aron Baynes is also questionable after his sprained ankle suffered on Wednesday has improved far faster than anticipated.


• The status of Greg Monroe who reportedly agreed to a 10-day contract with the Celtics over the weekend remains clear. The Celtics will be in desperate need of some depth on the front line tonight against the Spurs bigs if Baynes, Horford and Williams can't go, leaving Daniel Theis and Guerschon Yabusele are the only true big men on the roster. However, if Baynes is back healthy, the Celtics could hold off on the signing or pass over it altogether.


• The Celtics are in the midst of their fifth three-game losing streak of the season. They only had two three-game losing streaks during last year's campaign. A loss tonight would tie a season-high for the longest losing streak of the season.