Hold onto your hats, basketball fans, because the San Antonio Spurs just pulled off a shocker! They walked into Boston on January 10, 2026, and defeated the Celtics 100-95. But here's the real kicker: it wasn't a blowout. It was a nail-biting, down-to-the-wire thriller fueled by a second-half surge from none other than Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama, the Spurs' prized rookie, shook off a slow start to score 16 of his 21 points in the second half, punctuated by a clutch jumper with just 19.2 seconds remaining that effectively sealed the deal. De'Aaron Fox also poured in 21 points for San Antonio, while Keldon Johnson contributed a solid 18 points and 10 rebounds. This victory marked the Spurs' second consecutive win after stumbling through a two-game losing skid. It's moments like these that make you wonder: Is this the beginning of a Spurs dynasty 2.0?
On the Celtics' side, Derrick White led the charge with an impressive 29 points, followed by Jaylen Brown's 27. Despite their individual efforts, Boston suffered only their third loss in their last 12 games. The Celtics, coming off a win against the Raptors the previous night, initially seemed to have Wembanyama figured out, throwing double teams and aggressive defensive schemes his way whenever he tried to drive to the basket. But here's where it gets controversial... Did the Celtics underestimate Wembanyama's adaptability, or did the Spurs simply make better adjustments at halftime?
The game was a back-and-forth affair. With just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, Baylor Scheierman drained a corner three-pointer to give Boston the lead. White then followed up with a driving layup. However, the Spurs responded with a 9-2 run, capped by Johnson's three-pointer with 2:14 remaining, putting them ahead 93-91. Brown answered with a layup to tie the game, but Wembanyama's fadeaway jumper with 1:33 to go put San Antonio back on top.
And this is the part most people miss... After Brown's layup, the Celtics started to unravel. Fox ripped the ball away from Brown near midcourt, and Julian Champagnie converted a putback after his own missed shot, extending the Spurs' lead to 97-93 with 41 seconds left. Wembanyama then iced the game with a left-wing jumper, making it 99-95.
Wembanyama, who was playing his third game back after missing a couple due to a sore knee, didn't score his first points until midway through the second quarter when he hit a three-pointer from the top of the key. He really ignited in the third quarter, scoring nine straight points for San Antonio, erasing a nine-point deficit and tying the game with a three-point play. It's easy to forget that even generational talents like Wembanyama have to overcome early struggles.
Up Next:
- Spurs: At Minnesota on Sunday. Can they keep the momentum going against another tough Western Conference opponent?
- Celtics: At Indiana on Monday. Will they bounce back from this surprising loss?
This game definitely raises some interesting questions. Did the Celtics take the Spurs too lightly? Was Wembanyama's slow start a tactical move, or was he genuinely struggling? And ultimately, is San Antonio a legitimate contender in the West? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
