After two short home wins, the Celtics are back on the road to face the San Antonio Spurs. This is the first of two meetings this season. They will meet again in Boston on January 17. The Celtics took the series 2-0 last season and won by 44 points in Boston.
The Celtics are always 45-56 against the Spurs and 22-28 in San Antonio. The Celtics remain in first place in the East. They lead #2 Milwaukee by 1.5 games, #3 Philadelphia by 3 games, #4 Orlando by 6 games and #5 Miami by 6.5 games. Away team is 9-6 and 9-1 in last 10 games. They are 4-2 against Western Conference opponents. They have won their last 5 matches.
The San Antonio Spurs are 15th in the West. They are 4 behind 14th place Portland. They are 10.5 games behind 10th place Houston for the final Play In spot. They are 12.5 games behind sixth-place Dallas for the final guaranteed playoff spot. They are 2-13 at home and 2-8 in their last 10 games.
They are 0-8 against Eastern Conference teams. Victory awaits them in the last game. The Celtics are back on track after two short wins in Boston. They head to Oklahoma City to face the red-hot Thunder on Wednesday. They then head home to face the Jazz before playing two more games against the Pacers. Spurs tied 1-1 with Portland.
They play in Memphis on Wednesday before heading east to face the Cavs and Pistons. The Celtics only have one player on the injured list before this game. Jrue Holiday’s right elbow is questionable. His position is a game-time decision. If he can’t play, I expect Derrick White to move to the point while Al Horford or one of the backup wings moves into the starting lineup. Zach Collins is questionable for the Spurs with a sprained ankle. Devonte Graham is likely due to illness. Charles Bassey is out with a knee injury.
Probably the starter for the Celtics WEB VIEW PG: Jrue Holiday SG: Derrick White SF: Jaylen Brown PF: Jayson Tatum C: In Kristaps Porzingis Celtic reserves Delano Banton Oshae Brissett Sam Hauser To Horford Mr. Mykhailiuk Payton Pritchard Lamar Stevens Jordan Walsh Luke Cornet To Horford 2 ways players JD Davison Drew Peterson Nehemia Queta Injuries / Out Jrue Holiday (elbow) questionable Head coach With Joe Mazzu Probably the Spurs starters WEB VIEW PG: Malachi Branham SG: Devin Vassell SF: Julian Champagnie PF: Jeremy Sochan C: Victor Wembanyama Spurs reserves Sidy Cissoko Keldon Johnson Very Jones Sandro Mamukelashvili Doug McDermott Give in Osman Blake Wesley Two-way players Dominick Barlow David Duke, Jr Injuries / Out Zach Collins (ankle) questionable Devonte Graham (illness) probable Charles Bassey (knee) out Head coach Gregg Popovich Key answers WEB VIEW 1/2 Kristaps Porzingis Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images Kristaps Porzingis against Victor Wembanyama It should be a fun combination of a unicorn couple. Wembanyama is 7’4″ and Porzingis is 7’2″. Wembanyama averages 18.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 3.2 steals. He shoots 44% from the field and 28.5% from beyond the arc.
The Celtics will have to keep a close eye on Wemby when he goes to the basket, as he threatens to block shots every time. They must also keep him away from paint and glass.
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