Not a collapse, but not enough late as Boston’s offense finally hit a wall.
For much of Saturday night at TD Garden, the Celtics (24-14) looked like they had just enough control to survive.
They defended with purpose. They dictated where San Antonio’s shots came from. And behind Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, they built and protected a narrow lead through three quarters.
But when the game tightened - when execution, legs, and secondary scoring mattered most - Boston didn’t have enough left.
The Spurs (27-11) closed stronger, Victor Wembanyama delivered when it mattered, and the Celtics’ offense stalled at the worst possible time in a 100-95 loss that dropped Boston back into a tie with the Knicks for the No. 2 seed in the East.
It wasn’t a disastrous performance. It was a revealing one.
Here are four takeaways from Saturday night’s loss:
1. Spurs Missed Threes, Yet Celtics Still Couldn’t Separate:
Joe Mazzulla’s game plan was clear from the opening tip:
Pack the paint, protect the rim, and dare San Antonio to win from the perimeter.
On paper, it worked.
The Spurs entered the night ranked 20th in the league in three-point percentage, and they played right into Boston’s hands early. San Antonio launched from deep, missed often, and finished the night just 6 for 27 from beyond the arc.
That should have been enough for Boston to build a real cushion.
It wasn’t.
The Celtics led by only five at halftime, never pushed the margin into comfortable territory, and allowed the Spurs to hang around long enough for defense and late execution to swing the game. San Antonio shot just 40% from the field overall, but Boston never capitalized on the inefficiency.
When you invite a team to miss, you still have to punish them for it.
Jan 10, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons (4) attempts a basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half at the TD Garden. (Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images)2. Kornet’s Homecoming About the Moment, Not the Box Score:
Luke Kornet’s return to TD Garden had nothing to do with production, and everything to do with appreciation.
The former Celtics big man was met with warm chants during pregame introductions and received a tribute video late in the first quarter that brought the Garden crowd to its feet. It was a reminder of how beloved Kornet became during his time in Boston.
On the floor, though, it was a quiet night.
Kornet finished with 4 points and 6 rebounds in 24 minutes, largely doing the dirty work and staying out of the way of San Antonio’s stars. His presence didn’t swing the game, but the reaction he received showed the mark he left.
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3. Wembanyama Was Contained… Until He Wasn’t
For a half, Boston executed its Victor Wembanyama plan nearly perfectly.
The Spurs’ phenom scored just 5 points in the first half, floating on the perimeter and rarely imposing his size. Boston stayed physical, stayed disciplined, and avoided giving him easy looks at the rim.
That changed after halftime.
Wembanyama began asserting himself in the third quarter, scoring 9 points in the period by simply being bigger than anyone guarding him. By the fourth, he was fully comfortable, picking his spots and delivering when San Antonio needed him most.
His go-ahead jumper over Neemias Queta with 1:33 remaining was the defining shot of the night. He finished with 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks - a quiet line that still felt decisive.
Boston held up well early.
But late, Wembanyama tilted the floor.
4. Boston’s Offense Finally Hit a Wall:
This was a rare night where Boston’s offense simply ran out of gas.
Jaylen Brown (27 points) and Derrick White (29 points) did almost everything they could, combining for 56 points while logging season-high minutes. But they didn’t get enough help.
Boston scored just 40 points in the second half and attempted only four free throws all night - a staggering number for an offense built on pressure and movement. San Antonio’s size disrupted pick-and-roll actions, took away clean looks inside, and forced Boston into tougher jumpers late in the clock.
With Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons struggling to find rhythm, the Celtics leaned too heavily on two players who simply didn’t have enough left to finish the job.
Good teams can survive one offensive lull.
Great teams find answers anyway.
Jan 10, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) passes the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half at the TD Garden. (Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images)The loss closed out a 2-2 homestand and sent the Celtics back on the road for a four-game trip starting Monday in Indiana. It also served as a reminder that even when the process is sound, execution late still decides outcomes.
Boston didn’t collapse.
They just didn’t close.
And in a tightly packed Eastern Conference race, those nights tend to linger a little longer than most.
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.