Big third quarter run by Spurs sinks Celtics

December 31, 2018

 

LaMarcus Aldridge had a game high 32 points, and the San Antonio Spurs used a big third quarter run outscoring the Boston Celtics 46-30 in the stanza, en route to a 120-111 win at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas Monday night.

Boston (21-15) led a large majority of the first half, only allowing San Antonio an early 2-0 lead before taking a nine point first quarter lead, and leading by as many as 11 in the second quarter before heading to halftime up 52-46. The hosts though came out firing in just over a 2:30 stretch of the third quarter. After the Spurs had come back to even things 65-65, Kyrie Irving hit a step back jumper to regain a 67-65 Boston lead. However, San Antonio (21-17) would go on a 16-0 run and take a commanding 81-67 advantage. The Celts trimmed it to 92-82 before the quarter ended, but never got closer than eight the rest of the way.

San Antonio put six players in double figures. Aldridge added nine rebounds, five assists, and two blocks to go with his game high point total. Derrick White had 22 points. Davis Bertrans had 17, while Bryn Forbes added 15, DeMar Derozan 13, and Patty Mills 11. The Spurs went 14-26 from three point range, and shot nearly 50 percent overall from the floor. Boston put five players in double digit scoring led by 30 points from Jaylen Brown. Marcus Morris put in 18. Irving had 16 points and eight assists. Also contributing was Terry Rozier was 15 points and five assists, and Jayson Tatum had 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Celtics return home to host Minnesota Wednesday night at 8 pm.