Victor Wembanyama
The San Antonio Spurs earned a gritty 100-95 road win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday, and the final score only hinted at how much of an impact Victor Wembanyama made in limited minutes. Boston entered the night with the league’s top offensive rating, but the Spurs flipped the script in the second half, leaning on defense and timely shot-making to close the game at TD Garden, per Boston.
Wembanyama finished with 21 points, six rebounds, and three blocks in 26 minutes. The stat line looked solid but understated what actually unfolded. When he checked into the game, Boston’s comfort level around the rim disappeared. Shots came with hesitation, driving lanes shrank, and the Celtics struggled to maintain rhythm late.
After the win, Wembanyama made it clear that the performance came with respect for the opponent and the setting, per Masslive.
“Playing Boston is cool,” Wembanyama said. “First of all, the city is pretty cool. I think even though since it’s a back-to-back, so I haven’t had time to really experience it. But it’s pretty cool, pretty walkable unlike many American cities. But playing in this environment is cool. I think obviously they got great history, great culture. It’s a good team. It’s one of the top teams in terms of class in the NBA.”
Wembanyama’s Presence Changes the Game
Boston tried several defensive looks against Wembanyama, rotating matchups and sending different bodies his way. Jordan Walsh opened the assignment, with Baylor Scheierman and Neemias Queta seeing time as well. None of it fully worked.
Late in the game, Wembanyama showed how little margin for error exists when guarding him. He knocked down a contested jumper over Queta with tight coverage, then sealed the win with another jumper over Scheierman. The Celtics had no clean answers when the Spurs needed baskets most.
On the other end, Wembanyama anchored the paint. Boston kept attacking him at the rim, but shots routinely came back the other way. The Celtics managed just 40 points in the second half as their offense stalled under consistent pressure.
Spurs’ Defense Sets the Tone
The atmosphere inside TD Garden carried a playoff edge, rare for January, and both teams matched the moment early. Boston pushed the pace in the first half, while San Antonio stayed connected defensively and avoided letting the game get away.
That approach paid off after halftime. The Spurs tightened rotations, forced tougher shots, and controlled the tempo. Even when Wembanyama rested, the defensive focus held. When he returned, the impact became immediate.
San Antonio now sits at 27-11, good for second in the Western Conference, a reflection of growth across the roster. The Spurs have navigated stretches without Wembanyama due to injury, yet the group continues to stack wins. The roster includes multiple contributors, including former Celtic Luke Kornet, and the cohesion shows in games like Saturday’s.
For Wembanyama, the night blended dominance with appreciation. He delivered the deciding plays, altered the game defensively, and still took time to acknowledge Boston’s history and culture. It was a performance, and a message, that resonated beyond the box score.