AP WIREPHOTOBoston Celtics’ Marcus Smart (36) and Terry Rozier, right, fight for the rebound against San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili, right, of Argentina, Dewayne Dedmon (3) and Jonathon Simmons during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, in San Antonio.
Spurs point guard Tony Parker had 16 points, including 10 in the final period. Parker was 8 for 15 from the field, including a turn-back-the-clock, teardrop floater in the first quarter over a hard-charging Amir Johnson after crossing over Marcus Smart.
Pau Gasol had 17 points and 13 rebounds for San Antonio, which has won three straight at the AT&T Center after dropping three of its first four at home. The Spurs (20-5) are 7-4 at home after matching an NBA record with a 40-1 mark last season.
The Spurs had 33 assists on 44 field goals while shooting 55 percent from the field.
Boston was without injured leading scorer Isaiah Thomas. San Antonio rested starting power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, and both teams showed off their depth.
David Lee, who started in place of Aldridge, had eight points and 10 rebounds.
Avery Bradley had 25 points and 10 assists for the Celtics, and Boston got 34 points from its bench.
San Antonio came out on top in a game of big runs to win its 11th straight over Boston.
The Celtics turned a 38-28 deficit into a one-point advantage with a 15-4 run with 3 minutes left in the first half. The Spurs responded by outscoring Boston 14-4 to close the half and continued their run by opening the third on a 14-8 spurt in capturing a 70-55 lead.
Leonard had nine points in the surge, including an open 3-pointer in the right corner and a breakaway dunk. Boston then outscored San Antonio 18-4 to pull to 74-73 with a minute left in the third quarter.
Parker went 5 for 6 in the final period to help seal the Spurs’ victory.
TIP-INS
Celtics: Boston coach Brad Stevens expects Thomas to play Friday at home against Charlotte. Boston is 1-2 without Thomas, who missed his fourth straight game with a strained right groin. . Gerald Green was a late scratch after tweaking his left hip Tuesday in practice while playing 1-on-1. Green’s status changed when he experienced soreness in the hip Wednesday morning. “He went through all the practice, felt pretty good, didn’t feel good this morning,” Stevens said. … Boston is 3-7 against the Western Conference this season, including 1-4 against the Southwest Division. . Smart started his ninth game, including his third at point guard in place of Thomas. The Celtics are 4-5 with Smart starting at small forward or shooting guard.
Spurs: Aldridge rested for the second time this season, initially sitting out Oct. 30 in a 94-87 win at Dallas. “He’s a little banged up,” coach Gregg Popovich explained. “A little back-to-back, a little bit of rest, a little bit of everything.” . Aldridge, Parker, Gasol and Manu Ginobili have missed a combined eight games for rest this season. Ginobili has sat out three times. . Lee is the 88th player in NBA history with 10,000 career points and 7,000 rebounds. . San Antonio is 11-2 against Eastern Conference teams.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Host Charlotte on Friday.
Spurs: At Phoenix on Thursday.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
