Celtics-Spurs Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Dec 02 2009 3:28PM

The San Antonio Spurs took advantage of an easy portion in their schedule to get on track after a poor start to the season.

Things are about to get much tougher.

The Spurs host the Boston Celtics on Thursday as both teams go for their sixth straight win.

San Antonio (9-6) lost six of its first 10 games to post the worst start in the Tim Duncan era.

An ankle injury caused Duncan to miss two victories during that stretch, but he's been a key factor during the current five-game winning streak, averaging 20.6 points and 9.8 rebounds. He's led the team in scoring in three of the wins, including a 97-89 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday.

The Spurs held the 76ers to 39.3 percent shooting and gave up fewer than 90 points for the third time during the win streak. They are yielding an average of 91.8 points in the last five games - seven fewer than the first 10 games.

"We really shouldn't care that much about winning five in a row," said Manu Ginobili, who returned Sunday after missing five games with a strained groin and finished with eight points and three turnovers in 17 minutes.

"It's always good. It helps your confidence, and of course your standings, but we still believe we've got a long way to go."

Ginobili and the Spurs may be hesitant to make too much of the winning streak given the quality of the opponents. Three of the teams they defeated have losing records and the other two - Houston and Milwaukee - have spent much of the season hovering around .500.

San Antonio's upcoming schedule should provide a bigger test, with home games against division leaders Boston and Denver before Monday's visit to Utah, which has won six of seven.

However, not all the Spurs see the upcoming game against the Celtics (14-4) as a measuring stick.

"Right now, neither team is going to be as sharp as they'd like," Richard Jefferson said. "I think both teams are going to be a lot better later in the season. ... We're standing firm with (coach Greg Popovich) that we're learning, we're all trying to get better from day to day."

The Spurs haven't won six in a row since Dec. 4-14, 2008.

Boston brings its own five-game winning streak into San Antonio as it continues a four-game road trip. The Celtics beat Charlotte 108-90 on Tuesday behind Ray Allen's best performance of the season.

Allen came in averaging 15.2 points but finished with 27 - he scored more than 20 in only one other game all season - and hit five of his six 3-point attempts. He had been 7 for 27 from beyond the arc in the previous six games.

"I put some baby oil on the rim," Allen said, smiling. "I said earlier I had to just put it in, just swish the ball, not even mess around with the rim. It's really all a body thing, just getting your legs in the air and being consistent."

Allen regaining his shooting touch adds another weapon to an offense averaging 107.2 points and shooting 51.6 percent over the winning streak. Paul Pierce averaged 26.0 points in the first three games of it, although he's been held to a combined 23 in the last two. He was 3 of 8 from the field Tuesday to finish with a season-low eight points.

Boston and San Antonio split their two games last season with each winning on the other team's court. The Celtics have won three in a row at the AT&T Center.

Copyright 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Celtics' experience gets best of Spurs' new faces

By Tim Price, for NBA.com
Posted Friday December 4, 2009 12:26AM

SAN ANTONIO (NBA.com exclusive) -- By the end of it all, one team looked like it had a lineup that had endured a championship run together. The players on the other team looked like they were trying to retool theirs.

The Celtics got enough from their established players -- like a combined 47 points from Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo plus Rondo's 12 assists -- to defeat San Antonio 90-83 on Thursday night at AT&T Center. It's a season-best six straight for Boston (15-4) and pulls the Celtics back into a tie for Eastern Conference leadership with Orlando.

The Spurs (9-7) had their season-best five-game winning streak snapped while also getting production from their established players. But it came without compliment from the newcomers.

Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were similar to the top three Boston scorers in that they accounted for more than half of the team's points (a 44-point night for the Spurs' "Big Three"). The new starters on the Spurs (Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess and Keith Bogans) combined for six points. Jefferson went 3-for-13, including 0-for-4 from the 3-point line. He also had just one trip to the free-throw line.

The one new player that made an impact for the Spurs was first-round draft choice DeJuan Blair. His 18 points was a career high in 21 minutes. And his five offensive boards (Duncan also had seven on the offensive glass) drove the Spurs to a 20-2 advantage in offensive rebounding.

"Blair almost single-handedly turned this game around for them," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He beat us on the post. He kept balls alive."

But San Antonio lacked efficiency with those putbacks. The Spurs converted just eight of their 20 second-chance opportunities compared to Boston's 5-for-6 in second chances.

Add to that the easy-to-identify areas of the game that got away from the Spurs. Their 19 turnovers led to 19 points for the Celtics, an 11-point advantage in that department. And they missed 10 of their 17 free throws. Parker was 1-for-4 and Duncan missed both of his free throws.

"They were sloppy," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "They turned it over. Missed free throws. Missed assignments by some people in some critical situations when we got within three or four or five or six.

"Some of that you can live with because we've got new guys. We know full well we're making too many mental errors in games, and they were really glaring tonight against a team that's so good."

Popovich liked his team's play in the fourth quarter, when the Spurs were down 12 points with nine minutes to go yet had the lead down to four points with less than a minute remaining.

After Paul Pierce hit a free throw to put Boston up by five, it looked like San Antonio cut it to two points with 12 seconds to go when Michael Finley hit one from past the 3-point line. But it was too far past -- he had a foot out of bounds while setting up for the shot.

Eddie House hit a pair of free throws to end a game the Celtics almost squandered.

"We gave up 20 offensive rebounds, and that's not us," Kendrick Perkins said. "I don't feel like that was our best, but we did a lot of good things. I think our defense was great. We were talking, we were executing well and we just played good team ball."

San Antonio's problems started early when they committed six turnovers in the first quarter, leading to nine Celtics points and a 10-point lead heading into the second quarter.

Yet the Spurs trailed by three on Parker's drive with 4:35 left in the half. But, just as they did in the first quarter, the Celtics closed out the half and took a double-digit lead. The Spurs missed five of their next six shots, and Boston loaded the ball inside to sure-shot Perkins.

A game after he went 9-for-10 in Charlotte, Perkins hit three-straight shots under the basket in the next 2 ½ minutes against the Spurs and gave the Celtics a 13-point lead inside the one-minute mark.

San Antonio did well to cut it to an eight-point deficit at halftime, 47-39. Ginobili hit a 3-pointer, the team's first after seven misses to start the game, and he found Parker for a fastbreak layup to cut it to eight.

Then the Spurs came out after halftime and more than doubled their turnover total from seven to 15.

• Celtics: Allen, Davis, Walker
• Spurs: Hairston, Haislip, Mahinmi

• Celtics: --
• Spurs: --

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
• Officials: #27 Dick Bavetta, #34 Marc Davis, #47 Bennie Adams
• Attendance: 18581
• Duration: 2:34

Boston Celtics (25-8)		San Antonio Spurs (20-13)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Duncan vs Perkins (Parker gains possession)
	11:39	Jefferson Jump Shot: Missed
Perkins Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	11:37
Allen 3pt Shot: Missed	11:22
	11:21	Jefferson Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	10:57 [SAS 2-0]	Duncan Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Perkins Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Duncan (1 ST)	10:33
	10:28	Jefferson Layup Shot: Missed
	10:25	Duncan Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	10:25	Duncan Layup Shot: Missed
Allen Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	10:24
Rondo Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)	10:15 [BOS 2-2]
	10:01	Parker Jump Shot: Missed Block: Pierce (1 BLK)
	10:01	Team Rebound
	09:54 [SAS 4-2]	Jefferson Driving Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Pierce 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS)	09:26 [BOS 5-4]
	09:07	Duncan Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)
Allen Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)	08:52 [BOS 7-4]
	08:52	Bogans Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Allen Free Throw 1 of 1 (3 PTS)	08:52 [BOS 8-4]
	08:37	Parker Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)
Rondo Layup Shot: Missed	08:26
	08:25	Duncan Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	08:10	Duncan Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Pierce (1 ST)
Allen Dunk Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Rondo (1 AST)	08:06 [BOS 10-4]
	07:37	Parker Foul : Offensive (1 PF)
	07:37	Parker Turnover : Foul (2 TO)
Perkins Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Garnett (1 AST)	07:25 [BOS 12-4]
	07:19	Team Timeout : Regular
	07:09 [SAS 6-12]	Parker Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Duncan (1 AST)
	06:51	McDyess Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Perkins Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	06:51
Team Rebound	06:51
Perkins Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	06:51
	06:50	Jefferson Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	06:37 [SAS 8-12]	Duncan Running Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Allen Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Jefferson (1 ST)	06:20
	06:18	Jefferson Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
Pierce 3pt Shot: Missed	06:07
	06:06	Duncan Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	05:57	McDyess Jump Shot: Missed
Allen Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	05:55
Garnett Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Allen (1 AST)	05:43 [BOS 14-8]
	05:26 [SAS 10-14]	Duncan Turnaround Bank shot: Made (6 PTS)
Garnett Jump Shot: Missed	05:07
	05:06	Bogans Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	04:53	Duncan Turnover : Lost Ball (3 TO) Steal:Rondo (1 ST)
Rondo Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Allen (2 AST)	04:49 [BOS 16-10]
Perkins Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	04:32
	04:32	Parker Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	04:32	Team Rebound
	04:32	McDyess Substitution replaced by Bonner
	04:32	Bogans Substitution replaced by Ginobili
	04:32	Parker Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
	04:30	Team Rebound
	04:23	Bonner 3pt Shot: Missed
	04:21	Duncan Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)
	04:21	Duncan Tip Shot: Missed
Garnett Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	04:20
Rondo Jump Shot: Missed	04:14
	04:12	Duncan Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)
	03:56	Ginobili 3pt Shot: Missed
Garnett Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	03:54
Pierce Jump Shot: Missed	03:45
	03:43	Parker Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	03:39 [SAS 12-16]	Jefferson Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Parker (1 AST)
Pierce Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	03:39
	03:39	Jefferson Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed
Garnett Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	03:38
	03:20	Jefferson Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Perkins Substitution replaced by Wallace	03:20
Allen Substitution replaced by Daniels	03:20
Garnett Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Rondo (2 AST)	03:08 [BOS 18-12]
	02:51	Bonner 3pt Shot: Missed
	02:48	Duncan Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)
	02:39	Rondo Violation:Defensive Goaltending
	02:39 [SAS 14-18]	Parker Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Jefferson (1 AST)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:36
	02:36	Parker Substitution replaced by Hill
Daniels Jump Shot: Missed	02:21
Team Rebound	02:21
	02:21	Bonner Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)
Pierce Layup Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Rondo (3 AST)	02:15 [BOS 20-14]
Wallace Foul : Personal (1 PF)	01:58
Garnett Substitution replaced by Scalabrine	01:58
	01:58	Jefferson Substitution replaced by Finley
	01:45	Duncan Driving Hook Shot: Missed
	01:44	Ginobili Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	01:34	Hill Step Back Jump shot: Missed
Rondo Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	01:32
Wallace Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)	01:22 [BOS 22-14]
	01:22	Duncan Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Rondo Substitution replaced by House	01:22
Wallace Free Throw 1 of 1 (3 PTS)	01:22 [BOS 23-14]
	01:11	Ginobili Jump Shot: Missed
Scalabrine Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	01:09
Pierce Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Hill (1 ST)	01:03
	00:55.9	Hill 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:53.9	Duncan Rebound (Off:4 Def:3)
	00:53.9	Duncan Layup Shot: Missed Block: Wallace (1 BLK)
Pierce Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	00:51.9
Pierce Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Hill (2 ST)	00:48.3
House Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)	00:48.3
	00:48.3	Hill Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	00:48.3	Team Rebound
	00:48.3	Duncan Substitution replaced by Blair
	00:48.3 [SAS 15-23]	Hill Free Throw 2 of 2 (1 PTS)
Scalabrine 3pt Shot: Missed	00:23.9
Team Rebound	00:22.0
Daniels Putback Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)	00:22.0 [BOS 25-15]
	00:00.9	Ginobili Step Back Jump shot: Missed
House Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	00:00.0
End of 1st Quarter
Boston Celtics (25-8)		San Antonio Spurs (20-13)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
Scalabrine 3pt Shot: Missed	11:46
Wallace Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	11:44
	11:44	Hill Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Wallace Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	11:44
Team Rebound	11:44
Wallace Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)	11:44 [BOS 26-15]
	11:29 [SAS 17-26]	Ginobili Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Finley (1 AST)
	11:12	Finley Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Wallace Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	11:12
Team Rebound	11:12
Pierce Substitution replaced by Allen	11:12
Wallace Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)	11:12 [BOS 27-17]
	10:59	Ginobili Driving Layup Shot: Missed
Wallace Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	10:57
Daniels Layup Shot: Missed	10:51
	10:50	Blair Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	10:33	Finley 3pt Shot: Missed
Daniels Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	10:31
Wallace 3pt Shot: Missed	10:15
	10:13	Bonner Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	09:57 [SAS 19-27]	Blair Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Finley (2 AST)
Wallace Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	09:32
	09:30	Bonner Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	09:20	Bonner Layup Shot: Missed
	09:19	Blair Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	09:19 [SAS 21-27]	Blair Putback Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Allen 3pt Shot: Missed	09:03
Team Rebound	09:01
Allen Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS)	08:50 [BOS 29-21]
	08:43	Team Timeout : Regular
	08:37 [SAS 23-29]	Blair Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Ginobili (1 AST)
Allen Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	08:37
	08:37	Bonner Substitution replaced by Jefferson
	08:37	Blair Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed
House Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	08:35
	08:22	Ginobili Substitution replaced by Bonner
Daniels Jump Shot: Missed Block: Finley (1 BLK)	08:14
	08:13	Bonner Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	07:53 [SAS 25-29]	Finley Finger Roll Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
	07:44	Hill Foul : Personal (2 PF)
	07:44	Blair Substitution replaced by Duncan
House 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Allen (3 AST)	07:35 [BOS 32-25]
	07:19 [SAS 27-32]	Hill Driving Layup Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Bonner (1 AST)
House Jump Shot: Missed	07:03
	07:01	Duncan Rebound (Off:4 Def:4)
	06:56 [SAS 29-32]	Hill Layup Shot: Made (5 PTS)
Wallace Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	06:56
Wallace Substitution replaced by Perkins	06:56
Daniels Substitution replaced by Rondo	06:56
Scalabrine Substitution replaced by Garnett	06:56
	06:56	Finley Substitution replaced by Parker
	06:56	Hill Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed
	06:55	Team Rebound
	06:43	Bonner 3pt Shot: Missed
Rondo Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	06:42
Rondo Jump Shot: Missed	06:20
	06:19	Bonner Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	05:54	Duncan Jump Shot: Missed
Rondo Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	05:53
Garnett Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Rondo (4 AST)	05:32 [BOS 34-29]
	05:16	Duncan Jump Bank Shot: Missed
Allen Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	05:14
House 3pt Shot: Missed	04:56
Team Rebound	04:54
Timeout : Official	04:54
	04:54	Hill Substitution replaced by Mason
	04:54	Bonner Substitution replaced by McDyess
House Substitution replaced by Pierce	04:54
Allen Jump Shot: Missed	04:48
	04:47	McDyess Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	04:35 [SAS 31-34]	Parker Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS)
Garnett Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	04:15
	04:14	Team Rebound
Perkins Foul : Loose Ball (2 PF)	04:14
Rondo Foul : Personal (1 PF)	04:05
	03:50	McDyess Jump Shot: Missed
Rondo Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	03:49
Perkins Reverse Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Garnett (2 AST)	03:35 [BOS 36-31]
	03:35	Mason Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Perkins Free Throw 1 of 1 (5 PTS)	03:35 [BOS 37-31]
Rondo Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	03:24
	03:24	Parker Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	03:24	Team Rebound
	03:24 [SAS 32-37]	Parker Free Throw 2 of 2 (7 PTS)
	03:10	Mason Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Allen Free Throw 1 of 2 (8 PTS)	03:10 [BOS 38-32]
Allen Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)	03:10 [BOS 39-32]
Team Timeout : Regular	02:58
	02:58	Jefferson Substitution replaced by Ginobili
	02:50	Mason 3pt Shot: Missed
	02:47	Duncan Rebound (Off:5 Def:4)
	02:43	Parker Floating Jump shot: Missed
Perkins Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	02:41
	02:24	Ginobili Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Pierce Free Throw 1 of 2 (6 PTS)	02:24 [BOS 40-32]
Pierce Free Throw 2 of 2 (7 PTS)	02:24 [BOS 41-32]
	02:19	Ginobili Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (1 TO)
Rondo Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:McDyess (1 ST)	02:07
	02:04 [SAS 34-41]	Ginobili Finger Roll Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Perkins Layup Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Rondo (5 AST)	01:57 [BOS 43-34]
	01:40	Parker Jump Shot: Missed
Perkins Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	01:38
Garnett Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Rondo (6 AST)	01:28 [BOS 45-34]
	00:59.8	Ginobili Running Jump Shot: Missed
Garnett Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	00:57.8
Perkins Layup Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Rondo (7 AST)	00:53.8 [BOS 47-34]
	00:32.9 [SAS 37-47]	Ginobili 3pt Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Parker (2 AST)
Garnett Jump Shot: Missed	00:15.9
	00:14.7	Duncan Rebound (Off:5 Def:5)
	00:08.9 [SAS 39-47]	Parker Layup Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Ginobili (2 AST)
Rondo 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.0
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 2nd Quarter
Boston Celtics (25-8)		San Antonio Spurs (20-13)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
Garnett Jump Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Rondo (8 AST)	11:46 [BOS 49-39]
	11:26	Jefferson Jump Shot: Missed
Perkins Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	11:25
	11:15	Parker Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Perkins Jump Shot: Missed Block: Duncan (1 BLK)	11:00
	10:59	Parker Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
Garnett Foul : Personal (1 PF)	10:52
	10:43	Duncan Turnover : Bad Pass (4 TO)
Allen Layup Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Garnett (3 AST)	10:28 [BOS 51-39]
	10:12 [SAS 41-51]	Duncan Jump Bank Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Parker (3 AST)
Pierce 3pt Shot: Missed	09:57
	09:56	McDyess Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	09:34	McDyess Jump Shot: Missed Block: Perkins (1 BLK)
	09:33	McDyess Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	09:32	Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover
Allen 3pt Shot: Missed	09:20
	09:19	Jefferson Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	09:03	Duncan Layup Shot: Missed
Garnett Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)	09:02
Pierce Layup Shot: Missed	08:54
	08:53	Duncan Rebound (Off:5 Def:6)
	08:49	Duncan Turnover : Bad Pass (5 TO) Steal:Rondo (2 ST)
Pierce Layup Shot: Missed Block: Duncan (2 BLK)	08:46
	08:44	Duncan Rebound (Off:5 Def:7)
Rondo Foul : Personal (3 PF)	08:40
	08:39	Jefferson Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Rondo (3 ST)
Rondo Dunk Shot: Made (6 PTS)	08:36 [BOS 53-41]
	08:36	Team Timeout : Regular
	08:22	Duncan Turnover : Bad Pass (6 TO) Steal:Garnett (1 ST)
Pierce 3pt Shot: Missed	08:10
	08:09	Jefferson Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	08:04 [SAS 43-53]	Parker Layup Shot: Made (11 PTS)
Allen Jump Shot: Missed	07:42
Perkins Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	07:41
Allen Pullup Jump shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Perkins (1 AST)	07:34 [BOS 55-43]
	07:17	Bogans Reverse Layup Shot: Missed
Garnett Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)	07:16
Rondo Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)	07:07
	07:07	Bogans Substitution replaced by Ginobili
	06:47 [SAS 45-55]	Duncan Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Parker (4 AST)
Garnett Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS)	06:26 [BOS 57-45]
	06:26	McDyess Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Garnett Free Throw 1 of 1 (13 PTS)	06:26 [BOS 58-45]
	06:10 [SAS 47-58]	Duncan Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Parker (5 AST)
Rondo Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Garnett (4 AST)	05:54 [BOS 60-47]
	05:36	Ginobili Turnover : Poss Lost Ball Turnover (2 TO)
Allen Pullup Jump shot: Made (15 PTS)	05:12 [BOS 62-47]
	04:58 [SAS 49-62]	Duncan Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Parker (6 AST)
	04:43	McDyess Foul : Personal (3 PF)
	04:43	McDyess Substitution replaced by Blair
Perkins Jump Shot: Missed	04:36
	04:35	Ginobili Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
Garnett Foul : Personal (2 PF)	04:35
	04:35	Jefferson Substitution replaced by Finley
	04:16 [SAS 51-62]	Duncan Driving Layup Shot: Made (16 PTS)
Garnett Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Rondo (9 AST)	04:03 [BOS 64-51]
	03:44	Finley Pullup Jump shot: Missed
	03:42	Finley Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	03:38 [SAS 54-64]	Ginobili 3pt Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Parker (7 AST)
Pierce Turnover : Traveling (3 TO)	03:25
Pierce Substitution replaced by Daniels	03:25
	03:25	Parker Substitution replaced by Hill
	03:10	Ginobili 3pt Shot: Missed
Rondo Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)	03:09
Daniels Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Rondo (10 AST)	03:04 [BOS 66-54]
	02:56	Ginobili Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Garnett (2 ST)
Allen 3pt Shot: Missed	02:48
	02:47	Finley Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
Garnett Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	02:35
Team Timeout : Regular	02:35
	02:35 [SAS 55-66]	Hill Free Throw 1 of 2 (6 PTS)
	02:35 [SAS 56-66]	Hill Free Throw 2 of 2 (7 PTS)
Garnett Jump Shot: Missed	02:18
	02:17	Hill Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Daniels Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)	02:14
	02:14	Duncan Substitution replaced by Bonner
Perkins Substitution replaced by Wallace	02:14
	02:14 [SAS 57-66]	Hill Free Throw 1 of 2 (8 PTS)
	02:14 [SAS 58-66]	Hill Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)
Rondo Layup Shot: Missed	01:57
	01:56	Finley Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	01:48 [SAS 60-66]	Finley Reverse Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Garnett Alley Oop Layup shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Rondo (11 AST)	01:40 [BOS 68-60]
	01:40	Finley Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Garnett Free Throw 1 of 1 (18 PTS)	01:40 [BOS 69-60]
	01:24 [SAS 62-69]	Blair Reverse Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Ginobili (3 AST)
Wallace Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS)	01:09 [BOS 71-62]
	00:55.9	Ginobili Layup Shot: Missed
	00:54.4	Blair Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
	00:52.9	Blair Layup Shot: Missed
	00:50.9	Ginobili Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
	00:47.9	Ginobili Layup Shot: Missed Block: Wallace (2 BLK)
	00:47.8	Blair Rebound (Off:3 Def:1)
	00:47.8	Hill Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
Rondo Substitution replaced by House	00:47.8
Garnett Substitution replaced by Scalabrine	00:47.8
House Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)	00:29.8
Allen Foul : Personal (2 PF)	00:11.0
	00:11.0	Ginobili Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	00:11.0	Team Rebound
Daniels Substitution replaced by Rondo	00:11.0
	00:11.0	Finley Substitution replaced by Bogans
	00:11.0	Bonner Substitution replaced by Jefferson
	00:11.0 [SAS 63-71]	Ginobili Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)
Wallace 3pt Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Rondo (12 AST)	00:02.0 [BOS 74-63]
	00:00.0	Instant Replay - Support Ruling
End of 3rd Quarter
Boston Celtics (25-8)		San Antonio Spurs (20-13)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
	11:38 [SAS 65-74]	Blair Reverse Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)
Allen Foul : Offensive (3 PF)	11:24
Allen Turnover : Foul (2 TO)	11:24
	11:24	Hill Substitution replaced by Parker
	11:08	Jefferson Running Bank shot: Missed
	11:07	Blair Rebound (Off:4 Def:1)
	10:57	Blair Foul : Offensive (1 PF)
	10:57	Blair Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
Allen Substitution replaced by Pierce	10:57
Wallace Jump Shot: Missed Block: Blair (1 BLK)	10:35
Team Rebound	10:35
Scalabrine Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Daniels (1 AST)	10:31 [BOS 76-65]
	10:15	Jefferson Layup Shot: Missed Block: Wallace (3 BLK)
	10:13	Bonner Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	10:09 [SAS 67-76]	Bonner Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Wallace 3pt Shot: Made (13 PTS)	09:56 [BOS 79-67]
	09:35 [SAS 69-79]	Parker Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Mason (1 AST)
	09:25	Jefferson Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Daniels Step Back Jump shot: Made (6 PTS)	09:10 [BOS 81-69]
	08:58	Mason Turnover : Step Out of Bounds Turnover (1 TO)
Timeout : Official	08:58
Scalabrine Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Bonner (1 ST)	08:56
	08:53	Bonner Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:House (1 ST)
	08:43	Jefferson Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Pierce Pullup Jump shot: Missed	08:34
	08:33	Blair Rebound (Off:4 Def:2)
	08:23	Blair Layup Shot: Missed Block: Wallace (4 BLK)
	08:22	Team Rebound
	08:11 [SAS 71-81]	Parker Jump Shot: Made (15 PTS)
Wallace 3pt Shot: Missed	07:52
	07:51	Blair Rebound (Off:4 Def:3)
	07:37	Parker Jump Shot: Missed
	07:36	Bonner Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)
	07:29 [SAS 73-81]	Parker Layup Shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Jefferson (2 AST)
Wallace 3pt Shot: Missed	07:13
	07:12	Bonner Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)
	07:03 [SAS 75-81]	Blair Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Mason (2 AST)
Team Timeout : Regular	07:03
Scalabrine Substitution replaced by Allen	07:03
House Substitution replaced by Garnett	07:03
Daniels Substitution replaced by Rondo	07:03
Allen Running Jump Shot: Missed	06:47
	06:47	Blair Rebound (Off:4 Def:4)
Allen Foul : Loose Ball (4 PF)	06:47
Wallace Substitution replaced by Perkins	06:47
	06:35	Parker Jump Shot: Missed
	06:33	Bonner Rebound (Off:3 Def:5)
	06:25	Mason 3pt Shot: Missed
Pierce Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	06:24
Rondo Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Garnett (5 AST)	06:14 [BOS 83-75]
	05:53 [SAS 77-83]	Blair Layup Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Mason (3 AST)
Garnett Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (20 PTS)	05:28 [BOS 85-77]
	05:07	Parker Layup Shot: Missed Block: Perkins (2 BLK)
Perkins Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)	05:05
Allen Jump Bank Shot: Missed	04:57
	04:56	Bonner Rebound (Off:3 Def:6)
	04:43 [SAS 79-85]	Blair Layup Shot: Made (16 PTS)
Garnett Jump Shot: Missed	04:20
	04:19	Parker Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	03:59	Jefferson Jump Shot: Missed
Garnett Rebound (Off:0 Def:7)	03:59
	03:59	Blair Foul : Personal (2 PF)
	03:59	Bonner Substitution replaced by Duncan
Rondo Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO)	03:49
Rondo Foul : Personal (4 PF)	03:30
	03:30	Team Timeout : Regular
	03:27	Jefferson 3pt Shot: Missed
	03:26	Duncan Rebound (Off:6 Def:7)
Garnett Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	03:20
	03:20	Duncan Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	03:20	Team Rebound
	03:20	Duncan Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Perkins Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)	03:18
Jump Ball Jefferson vs Perkins (Mason gains possession)	03:17
Perkins Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Jefferson (2 ST)	03:17
	02:51	Jefferson 3pt Shot: Missed
	02:50	Duncan Rebound (Off:7 Def:7)
	02:48	Duncan Layup Shot: Missed
	02:47	Blair Rebound (Off:5 Def:4)
	02:47 [SAS 81-85]	Blair Tip Shot: Made (18 PTS)
Allen Layup Shot: Missed	02:27
	02:26	Mason Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	02:16	Mason 3pt Shot: Missed
Rondo Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)	02:15
Rondo Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS)	02:00 [BOS 87-81]
	02:00	Team Timeout : Regular
Pierce Foul : Personal (2 PF)	01:50
	01:35	Duncan Fade Away Jumper Shot: Missed
Allen Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	01:34
Perkins Jump Shot: Missed Block: Blair (2 BLK)	01:12
	01:11	Duncan Rebound (Off:7 Def:8)
	00:57.6 [SAS 83-87]	Jefferson Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Duncan (2 AST)
Garnett Jump Shot: Missed	00:33.7
	00:31.8	Blair Rebound (Off:5 Def:5)
	00:26.3	Parker Layup Shot: Missed Block: Rondo (1 BLK)
Team Rebound	00:26.3
	00:18.3	Mason Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Team Timeout : Regular	00:18.3
	00:18.3	Duncan Substitution replaced by Bogans
	00:18.3	Jefferson Substitution replaced by Hill
Perkins Substitution replaced by House	00:18.3
	00:16.3	Hill Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Pierce Free Throw 1 of 2 (8 PTS)	00:16.3 [BOS 88-83]
	00:16.3	Bogans Substitution replaced by Duncan
House Substitution replaced by Perkins	00:16.3
Pierce Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	00:16.3
	00:15.4	Blair Rebound (Off:5 Def:6)
	00:15.4	Team Timeout : Short
	00:15.4	Hill Substitution replaced by Finley
	00:15.4	Mason Substitution replaced by Ginobili
	00:15.4	Blair Substitution replaced by Bonner
	00:12.9	Finley Turnover : Step Out of Bounds Turnover (1 TO)
Team Timeout : Short	00:12.9
	00:12.9	Duncan Substitution replaced by Hill
	00:12.9	Bonner Substitution replaced by Bogans
	00:12.9	Ginobili Substitution replaced by Mason
	00:12.9	Finley Substitution replaced by Blair
Perkins Substitution replaced by House	00:12.9
	00:11.6	Parker Foul : Personal (3 PF)
House Free Throw 1 of 2 (4 PTS)	00:11.6 [BOS 89-83]
	00:11.6	Blair Substitution replaced by Bonner
	00:11.6	Bogans Substitution replaced by Jefferson
House Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)	00:11.6 [BOS 90-83]
	00:04.9	Jefferson 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:03.9	Parker Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	00:00.3	Jefferson 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:00.0	Team Rebound
End of 4th Quarter

broadcast information
country		channel			time
usa			TNT	National	8:00 pm ET
canada			TSN	national	8:00 pm ET