The San Antonio Spurs pulled off a stunning 100-95 victory against the Boston Celtics on January 10, 2026, a game that showcased both rising stars and seasoned veterans.
Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs' young sensation, was the hero of the hour, scoring a crucial 16 of his 21 points in the second half. His clutch jumper with a mere 19.2 seconds remaining sealed the deal, sending shockwaves through the Celtics' home court.
But the Spurs' triumph wasn't a one-man show. De'Aaron Fox matched Wembanyama's scoring prowess with 21 points of his own, while Keldon Johnson contributed a valuable 18 points and 10 rebounds. This win marked the Spurs' second consecutive victory, a welcome change after a previous two-game losing streak.
On the Celtics' side, Derrick White led the charge with an impressive 29 points, closely followed by Jaylen Brown's 27. Despite their efforts, the Celtics suffered their third loss in their last 12 games.
The game was a nail-biter, tied at 84 points before Baylor Scheierman's corner 3-pointer gave Boston a slight edge with under seven minutes left. The Spurs then launched a decisive 9-2 run, seizing a 93-91 lead thanks to Johnson's 3-pointer with 2:14 remaining.
After Brown tied the game, Wembanyama's fadeaway jumper put San Antonio back in the lead with 1:33 to go. A critical steal by Fox, followed by Julian Champagnie's putback, extended the Spurs' lead to 97-93 with 41 seconds on the clock. Wembanyama's final jumper then iced the game at 99-95.
Here's where it gets interesting: Wembanyama, returning from a knee injury, didn't score until the second quarter. However, he exploded in the second half, scoring nine consecutive points and bringing the Spurs back from a nine-point deficit. The Celtics, fresh off a victory against the Raptors, initially seemed prepared for Wembanyama, employing double teams and quick defensive strategies.
A point to ponder: Could the Celtics' defensive strategy have been more effective if they had anticipated Wembanyama's second-half surge? Did the Spurs' ability to rally highlight a weakness in the Celtics' game plan? What do you think?
Up next:
* Spurs: At Minnesota on Sunday.
* Celtics: At Indiana on Monday.
