Spurs Face Tough Challenge Against Celtics Before All-Star Break

BOSTON, Mass. — The San Antonio Spurs will visit the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Wednesday night, February 12, 2025, in their last game before the All-Star break. Both teams come into the matchup with vastly different trajectories; the Celtics aim to maintain their momentum while the Spurs are fighting for playoff positioning.

San Antonio, currently sitting 12th in the Western Conference with a 23-28 record, hopes to capitalize on their recent victory over the Washington Wizards, where they won 131-121 with standouts De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama each scoring over 30 points. This game marks a crucial opportunity for the Spurs as they seek to move closer to a potential play-in spot for the playoffs, being just three games behind the current 10th seed.

The Celtics, defending champions with a record of 38-16, are positioned second in the Eastern Conference. After defeating the Miami Heat 103-85 in their last outing, Boston is riding a two-game winning streak. However, they might face challenges of their own, having injuries that could affect their performance. Star Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable with a knee injury, and Jrue Holiday is out due to a shoulder injury.

“We have to focus on our game plan and be ready for anything,” said Boston’s coach. “San Antonio is a young team with a lot of talent; we can’t underestimate them.”

Jayson Tatum leads the Celtics’ offensive charge with an average of 26.9 points per game. Tatum has been particularly hot recently, scoring 40 points against the New York Knicks and following that up with 33 points against the Heat. Coach Ime Udoka highlighted Tatum’s importance in the game, especially with Brown potentially sidelined.

Meanwhile, the Spurs are looking to build on the synergy between Fox, who has been averaging 21.3 points, 8.5 assists since joining San Antonio, and rookie sensation Wembanyama, who notched a double-double with 31 points and 15 rebounds in the game against the Wizards. “The connection between De’Aaron and Vic is growing stronger every game,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

In addition to their star players, both teams will need contributions from their role players. For San Antonio, Jeremy Sochan may have to fill a larger role defensively to help contain Tatum. The Celtics, known for their physical style of play, are ranked among the top 10 in the NBA for rebounding. The Spurs’ struggles on the boards could present issues, especially without backup center Charles Bassey.

The last time these two teams met was on January 17, 2024, when the Celtics defeated the Spurs 117-98, showing their ability to dominate. As the teams prepare for their first encounter this season, the Spurs hold a slight all-time advantage with 58 wins to Boston’s 45 in their 103 regular-season matchups.

The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. ET and will be available for viewing on ESPN, NBC Sports Boston, and streaming via NBA League Pass. With the Celtics favored by 8.5 points and an over/under set at 234.5 total points, both teams are aware that this game could significantly impact their respective playoff positioning.

As the Spurs look to capitalize on their recent success, the Celtics aim to extend their winning streak and solidify their status as a championship contender. This high-stakes matchup should deliver an exciting night of basketball.