Victor Vembanjama is too strong for Celtic!

Victor Vembanyama will remember his first career victory in Boston! In a match that was fought until the end, the French All-Star had to work together with De’Aaron Fox (21 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists) and Keldon Johnson (18 points, 10 rebounds) to get the victory.

The Celtics did what was necessary to ignite the match, trying to focus on aggressiveness on defense and quick play on offense to avoid crossing Mount Wemby in the paint. The home team succeeded in their attempt, Jalen Brown scored two baskets for 3 points at the head of the French interior and increased the deficit, until the new triple by Luca Garza (26-17).

The Frenchman continued to turn the tide and bring his team back into the game, notably after a 3-pointer, an authoritative dunk and a serve for a 3-pointer by Dylan Harper, before seeing Julian Champagnie score to bring the Texans back to -2 (43-41). To hold on, Boston could count on the composure of Derrick White, the author of 8 points, including two arrows from behind the arc, and Jalen Brown to keep the lead at the break (55-50).

After Derrick White started the third quarter again with a 3-pointer, Victor Wembanyama responded quickly, scoring six straight points before marking his own territory by getting on the block in front of Jaylen Brown for a poster dunk. The Frenchman didn’t stop there, going for a lobbed pass that only he can finish, with a bonus foul, before offering himself a dunk in traffic to start the final act and advance Julian Champagne’s triple just before (75-78).

This time the Spurs took the lead, but Boston didn’t have time to think about it, returning to the lead thanks to three-pointers from the White-Scheyerman-Simons trio to regain a 5-point lead (89-84), forcing Wemby to go back to work. Under his guidance, San Antonio was able to finish stronger, between a dunk by Luca Cornet, a three-pointer by Keldon Johnson to get back in front (93-94) and his last two baskets that ultimately forced a decision in favor of the Texans, a 100-95 winner.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– The unpredictable “Wemby”. The Frenchman must not have appreciated Celtics start to the match and did his best to turn the tide from his first entry into the game. Victor Wembanyama chained decisive actions to keep his team in touch, before putting together a “clutch” of action after the break, such as two blocks against Jaylen Brown, but also two aerial finishes, on a lobbed pass sent by Stephon Castle, then a serve by De’Aaron Fox, and especially his last two baskets, including the winner in the middle.

– Jaylen Brown goes from everything to nothing. He lit up the start of the game with these rainbow 3s in front of Webby that tickled the TD Garden ceiling before falling to the circle, then found himself in more and more trouble as the match wore on. There were his two attempts at the rim that ended with two blocks from the Frenchman, then the end of the game where he missed twice, on a wide-open three at 93-95, and then after a turnover caused by a tricky pass by De’Aaron Fox in transition, which allowed Julian Champagne to score two more points on the counter. Two sequences that really hurt Boston.

– A triumphant return for Luke Cornett. NBA champion in 2024 with the Celtics, the pivot returned to TD Garden for the first time where he spent slightly more than the last three. A winning return for the pivot who worked the court at the end of the match to secure the victory, with an authoritative dunk in response to Neemias Cueta who then scored the last throw of the match.

– Four low free throws for Boston. The Celtics finished the game 3/4 on free throws, while the Spurs were able to get to the penalty line 20 times. A gap that won’t fail to get people talking on the Boston side, even if in their desire to avoid Wemby at all costs, the C’s forgot to attack the circle…

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = point difference when the player is on the court; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.