If my math is correct, the Spurs just need 8 wins for a Top-6 spot and 11 wins for a Top-2 spot.
Based on current win projections, Top-6 is essentially secured already and 3 to 4 wins locks up Top-2.
"Most of it was reading the game. I'm not going to complain about what they did." - Wemby on his increase in 3PT volume tonight based on how BOS defended him
With 17 games left, the Spurs are on pace for 59.1 to 60.5 wins.
The Spurs (2nd out West) are 2.5 games behind the Thunder for 1st and now have a 7.5 game cushion in front of the Rockets (3rd).
Stephon Castle ended up with 18 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast, and 2 tos in 34 mins.
Castle shot 3/8 from outside with BOS limiting the paint.
This was Castle's first time this season making 3 threes in consecutive games.
Fox's last 4 games:
vs DET: 29 pts (12 paint), 3 ast
vs LAC: 19 pts (12 paint), 9 ast
vs HOU: 20 pts (16 paint), 10 ast
vs BOS: 25 pts (16 paint), 9 ast
De'Aaron Fox had another good night with 25 pts, 9 reb, 1 stl, and 1 to in 35 mins.
Fox matched his season high of 16 paint pts for a second game in a row.
He's scored double-digit paint pts in 4 straight games for the 1st time since Nov 20.
Wemby finished with 39 pts, 11 reb, 2 blk, 3 ast, 1 stl, and 6 tos in 37 mins.
He shot 8/15 from three, matching his career high in 3PT makes.
His alley-oop streak ends at 19 games.
The last time he didn't complete an alley-oop was 01/22 in Utah
Referee Tyler Ford to Michael Wright of ESPN on Jaylen Brown’s ejection in the 2Q:
The Spurs had a very good night on offense. Numbers that stood out:
20 made 3s after 21 vs HOU on Sunday
43% 3PT%
65% paint FG%
Just 12 TOs
125 total pts
Shot diet: 55% 3s (NEW season high), 36% 2s (matched season low), 8% mid-range
With the win over Boston, the Spurs also improve to...
...37-11 as favorites
...40-12 when leading by double digits (avg lead is +17.2 PPG)
...22-10 in crunch time
...30-7 when winning or tying 2s
...33-7 when winning or tying 3s
...33-9 when winning or tying FTs
Shot location scoring for the Spurs and Celtics' 3PT shootout.
39 combined made 3s
98 combined attempts from 3
The Spurs have won 21 of their last 25 games.
Or
The Spurs have won 16 of their last 17 games.
The Spurs have won 5 games in a row for the 4th time this season after defeating the Celtics by 9.
The Spurs improve to...
...48-17 overall (2nd out West)
...25-6 at home
...20-4 vs the East
...2-0 vs BOS
...28-12 vs .500 and above teams
18 points for Castle after he drills the open corner three, his 3rd make from distance.
Fox with 23 pts after the mid-ranger.
Spurs by 10 again
49% of the Spurs' games have gone to crunch time.
SA enters 21-10 in crunch time
8 made 3s now for Wemby and he's got 39 points. The Spurs go back up by 6.
88 combined 3s for both teams
67 combined 2s for both teams
Tatum with the last 7 points for the Celtics and 21 for the game.
Celtics back within 3 of the Spurs' 10-point lead
The Spurs have led by double digits in 80% of their games this season.
SA enters 39-12 when ahead by 10
END 3Q
3s: Spurs by 9
FTs: Spurs by 2
2s: Celtics by 4
= Spurs by 7
SA wins the 3Q 39-32
Wemby 29 pts | White 32 pts (19 in 3Q)
Fox 18 pts | Tatum 14 pts
Castle 15 pts | Hauser 11 pts
Harper Jr. 11 pts
9 pts for Harper off the bench after he hits his first three of the game.
The Spurs lead by 7 now, winning the 3PT line by 9 at the moment.
32 3PA for the Spurs and 30 3PA for the Celtics so far.
Both teams with more 3PA than 2PA
Celtics by 1, after the Spurs had led by 6 in the 3Q
21 pts for Wemby and it's still early in the 3Q.
He's made five threes already
HALF
2s: Spurs by 4
FTs: Spurs by 5
3s: Celtics by 9
= Tied at 58 all
Spurs win 2Q 29-27.
Wemby 15 pts (12 in 2Q) | White 13 pts
Fox 13 pts | Tatum 10 pts
Castle 10 pts
Brown ejected in 2Q
12 pts in the 2Q right now for Wemby, he's got 15 in the game. He's made three 3s in this first half.
Tatum is up to 10 pts
BOS by 2
Fox and White each have 11 pts to lead their teams in scoring.
Bryant and Ron Harper Jr. each with 8 pts off the bench.
Bryant getting chances to guard Tatum and Brown
END 1Q
2s: Spurs by 4
Fts: Spurs by 3
3s: Celtics by 9
= Celtics by 2 (31-29)
Fox 6 pts | White 7 pts
Castle 6 pts | Tatum 5 pts
Ron Harper Jr. 5 pts
Since January 15, where the Spurs are 20-4. They have the 2nd best offense, 5th best defense, and a +11.4 Net Rating (1st).
The before and after numbers
From the pod:
In their last 24 games, the Spurs have only trailed by double digits 7 times.
They’ve made four 15+ point comebacks in those 7 games.
From the pod:
Since Jan 15, the Spurs are 20-4.
Led by 15 pts in 19 of 24 games.
Led by 20 pts in 12 of 24 games.
Led by 30 pts in 5 of 24 games.
🎙️New pod!
🏀 Spurs went 4-0 vs PHI, DET, LAC, & HOU
🏀 The Spurs have been a juggernaut since mid January
⭐️ Spurs player with in-season award honors
🎧 Apple podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
🎧📺 Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/0AN5...
📺 YouTube youtu.be/RdDQfEfuhOU?...
