Everything you need to know about the Spurs' 129-114 win over the Celtics with BSJ insight and analysis
Box Score
HEADLINES
Kemba Walker ejected for the first time ever in ugly loss: The All-Star point guard made his return after a three-game absence due to flu-like symptoms but only last 18 minutes after he was handed two quick technicals by referee Evan Scott while protesting a missed moving screen call at the 5:46 mark of the third quarter. It was the first career ejection for the normally soft-spoken Walker who was given a very short leash by the official in the sequence that resulted eventually in a foul going against Daniel Theis. Brad Stevens also got whistled for the tech in the hysteria while one fan threw a drink onto the Garden floor. The Celtics trailed by double digits for the final 18 minutes of the game after the ejection as the Spurs erupted for a 15-4 run to help put the game away.
Celtics come out flat again: Despite having their starting five back at full strength for the first time in weeks, the hosts came out incredibly flat in this one, giving up a 24-5 lead over the first six minutes that led to boos from the Garden crowd. Boston’s second unit helped stopped the bleeding in the first half but the C’s didn’t make any real headway into the lead until the third quarter when the starters opened up a 22-11 run to begin the second half before Walker’s ejection. Gordon Hayward led five Celtics in double figures with 18 points but Boston shot just 40.9 percent from the field in what was another subpar night from the offense. DeMar DeRozan had a game-high 30 points for the visitors who shot a collective 55.2 percent from the field, a season-best for a Celtic opponent this season.
TURNING POINT
The Celtics were in the midst of their best stretch of basketball of the night in the third quarter before Walker’s ejection, going on a 15-4 run to cut the Spurs deficit to seven. The game changed from there with the Spurs responding with a 12-3 outburst after the ejection, helped mightily by three technical foul free throws.
TWO UP
Daniel Theis: The big man breathed some life into the C’s in the second half, scoring 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting while knocking down a couple of 3s. It was the second-highest scoring output of the season for him.
Gordon Hayward: The swingman bounced back from a rough shooting night in Washington to lead the C’s with 18 points. His four 3s were the most this season.
TWO DOWN
Marcus Smart: He continues to be a net negative on the offensive end since returning from his eye infection. He missed seven of his first nine shots from the field and has knocked down just 9-of-37 3s over his last six games. Those misfires combined with three turnovers were trouble against San Antonio.
Evan Scott: Normally we don’t discuss the officiating in this area but the quick hook he gave Walker for his first career ejection is worth noting after a blown call on the moving screen. Walker earned one tech but he deserved a cooling-off period for more than two seconds after a second one was given. Scott’s quick trigger ruined what was shopping up to be a fun game.
TOP PLAY
The dime ➡️ the dunk pic.twitter.com/liWMtB0SNE
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 9, 2020
TWO TAKES B-ROBB WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
The Celtics are facing a play hard issue for the first time all season: One of the most promising parts about this season is how the Celtics had shown fight in every game. For the first time all year, we are seeing a team that is showing some of last year’s bad habits. Walker was clearly not at full strength early on but the energy level from the starting five was not where it needs to be and it hasn’t been for about a week or so. The Celtics are better than most expected but they are still not good enough to coast to wins, particularly like when their shots aren’t falling, which has been the case for the last week or so minus the performance in Chicago. Some of the slippage may just be the schedule but there has been lots of settling and lethargic play on both ends early in games. There
Thursday’s matchup against the Sixers will be a pivotal gut check: The Celtics are already down 2-0 in the season series and on paper going to Philly for the team’s fifth game in seven nights looks like a schedule loss. However, Boston is going to get a break with Joel Embiid missing the game due to a sprained finger. That should give the C’s a better chance and there should be extra motivation now coming off of a pair of ugly performances against the Spurs and Wizards. The minutes were kept down for all the starters due to the blowout so it should be full steam ahead for this group in what could be ultimately a pivotal game for the East standings. How the Celtics respond will be telling as they attempt to avoid losing the season series outright to a shorthanded Sixers squad.