BSJ Game Report: Celtics 121, Spurs 111 - Tatum, Kornet shine as C's hold off Spurs in fourth

Everything you need to know about the Celtics win over San Antonio, with BSJ insight and analysis.

IN A NUTSHELL

Jayson Tatum did a bit of everything and Jrue Holiday hit almost everything as Boston opened a nine-point first-quarter lead. The teams traded runs in the second, but Boston recovered to extend the lead to 12 at halftime. They came out sloppy to start the third but recovered again to take a 13-point lead into the fourth. Chris Paul tried to will the Spurs back, but the best they could do was go back and forth as Boston made enough shots to keep up. 

Box Score

HEADLINES

- Luke Kornet chomping glass: He had a career-best 16 rebounds, seven of which were offensive. 

“He carried us through a tough stretch at the beginning of the season, and he continues to make big-time plays for us,” Joe Mazzulla said after the game. “We're really grateful to have him.”

He has 161 offensive rebounds this season, 21st in the NBA, but only four players ahead of him have done it in fewer minutes. 

- Another near triple-double for Tatum: His brilliance was lost in the commotion over Kornet’s offensive rebounding, but he finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. He would have hit the triple-double if Derrick White could hit a shot. 

- Eight in a row: Their offensive rating over these eight games is 125.2, six points better than their full season rating. Their offensive rating for the month is 124, best in the NBA. They’ve climbed to within four games of the top seed with eight games to go. 

TURNING POINT 

Chris Paul got super hot, starting with a pullup jumper at the 8:17 mark of the fourth quarter. But Boston matched the Spurs every step of the way. San Antonio shot 62.5% and the best they could do in the fourth was a 5-0 run. 

THINGS I LIKED

- Luke Kornet: I wrote before the game that the Celtics need to take advantage of San Antonio’s lack of size, and Kornet ended up being the one to do it best. He was all over the boards, but he made other plays, too. For example, tying someone up to force a jump ball that he won, or his four assists. He’s playing great lately. 

- Tatum’s control: He did so much beyond his raw numbers. He was often a screener, which is incredibly effective because suddenly the defense is concerned about the guy who doesn’t have the ball. He cut well, which opened up some things for teammates. It was a beautifully well-rounded game from Tatum. 

- Jrue Holiday’s shooting: He was 8-12 overall and 5-7 from deep, checking in with a much-needed 21 points on a night Brown seemed limited by his knee. 

“I'm trying to be as aggressive as possible,” Holiday said. “Shots are falling. That always feels good.”

We haven't talked about his pinky injury since he returned, which is the most telling thing about it. I forget it’s even hurt until he does his Dr. Evil celebration. 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE

- Jaylen Brown: He did not look good in this one, and the knee is obviously an issue. While I do understand a player chasing the 65-game mark to qualify for postseason awards, we’re starting to enter a Catch-22 area. He won’t get a postseason award unless he gets to 65 games, so he’s going to play. But by playing, he seems to be falling into an up-and-down pattern that could cost him the stats he needs to earn a postseason award. 

I just hope he knows what he’s doing. 

- Derrick White going cold: He needed ONE more 3-pointer to tie Isaiah Thomas’ mark. Saturday night was the anniversary of Thomas setting the record, and White was back where his career started. Maybe White was too aware of the moment and it got to him, but he was 3-12 from deep in the game and 1-5 in the fourth quarter. H missed out on the record AND it cost Tatum a triple-double. 

- Kristaps Porzingis: An off night from him from the field, shooting 4-11 overall and 1-4 from 3. More than that, though, he was too hung up on the officials. I’m shocked he didn’t get a tech. 

- Spurs points in the paint: There's no way a defensive team like Boston, with all their size, should allow 44 points in the paint to the Spurs. I know Stephon Castle is trying to do a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander impression in his rookie season, but Boston was too lazy in allowing the Spurs to get that deep.

HIGHLIGHTS

TWO TAKES KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- This is why the fourth quarter is all about making buckets. 

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve said the fourth quarter is all about making buckets when you have a lead, but the fourth quarter is all about making buckets when you have a lead.

The Spurs shot 62.5% in the fourth but Boston answered every Spurs score in the quarter except for a Keldon Johnson 3 after two Castle free throws at the 9:17 mark, and two Jeremy Sochan free throws at the end when Boston took the shot clock violation. 

So it didn’t matter how hot Paul got. It didn’t matter that San Antonio hit five of seven shots in three minutes. Teams cannot go on runs if you make baskets or get to the line. Eight of Boston’s makes were 2-pointers and five points came from the line. 

But when you’re up by 13, all that matters is scoring the ball. They did that and they didn’t get burned by an outlier quarter. 

- I feel a loss coming. 

They’ve won eight in a row so I’m not exactly being Nostradamus by saying this, but at the same time, I feel like they're running out of some of the steam that's pushed them to all these wins and a perfect road trip. 

Maybe it’ll happen in that dreaded first game back after a long road trip, which would suck because that's the Miami game on Wednesday night and I don’t want to hear it from their folks if it happens. 

But this wasn’t the most inspired performance against the Spurs. They had some long stretches of lackluster basketball. I think a stumble is coming.

Next up: The Celtics finish up their road trip against Memphis on Monday night.