Kawhi Leonard showed Friday why he’s about to make a whole boatload of money this summer.
The San Antonio Spurs wing looked like the best player in the building during his team’s matchup with the Boston Celtics, scoring a game-high 22 points and adding seven rebounds, two assists and three steals as the Spurs held off a late Celtics rally to win 101-89.
Leonard was one of five players to score in double figures for the Spurs, while Evan Turner led the way for the Celtics with 17 points.
BEAUTIFUL BASKETBALL
The Spurs came out firing in the first quarter, displaying the expert ball movement they’re known for to score on 12 of their first 20 shots — 10 of which were assisted. Avery Bradley was hot early for the Celtics, with eight of his 16 points coming in the first, but the rest of his team managed to score just 11, and San Antonio led 32-19 after 12 minutes.
The Spurs employed a balanced offensive attack to gain the early advantage, with all five starters scoring at least one point in the frame and three scoring six or more.
San Antonio extended that lead to 14 by halftime, but things could have been a lot worse for the C’s. Marcus Smart scored eight of Boston’s final 12 points in the second to keep the deficit somewhat manageable.
BIGS BATTLE NO CONTEST
Spurs big men Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter torched the Celtics in the first half, combining for 19 points (7-of-9 shooting), eight rebounds and six assists. Brandon Bass turned in a respectable first half with eight points and three boards, but Boston’s other bigs basically were invisible. Tyler Zeller and Kelly Olynyk went a combined 1-for-10 from the floor in the first 24 minutes, managing just two points between them.
The trouble Zeller and Olynyk had containing Splitter prompted head coach Brad Stevens to insert Jae Crowder — the Celtics’ defensive Swiss Army knife — to begin the third quarter. The smaller lineup did slow the Spurs down a bit, and Crowder was one of Boston’s best offensive weapons all night (14 points), but San Antonio just continued to stretch its lead.
The Spurs led by 21 after three quarters. The Celtics did rip off a 16-0 run to cut it to seven with four minutes to play, but San Antonio quickly recovered and pulled away down the stretch.
SMART, THEN NOT SO SMART
Also of note in the second half were point guard Marcus Smart’s repeated drives to the rim. Most came up empty (he failed to score a point after halftime), but Stevens had to be pleased with the rookie’s aggressiveness.
Those positives were erased by one exchange midway through the fourth quarter, though. Smart was assessed a flagrant 2 foul and ejected for punching Spurs big man Matt Bonner in the groin area.
The rookie likely is looking at a suspension for that one.
STILL AFLOAT
The loss was Boston’s second in a row, but the Celtics retained their grasp on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference by virtue of an Indiana Pacers loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The two teams own identical 30-38 records, but the Celtics hold the tiebreaker.
Up next: The Celtics now return home Sunday to face the free-falling Detroit Pistons, who have lost 11 of their last 12 to plummet out of the playoff race.
Thumbnail photo via Soobum Im/USA TODAY Sports Images
