The Boston Celtics held off the San Antonio Spurs 105-103 on Wednesday night to give the Spurs back-to-back losses for the first time all season. The Celtics, who have the Eastern Conference's best record, withstood a horrifying run by the league-leading Spurs in the final minute of the game.
Celtics Vs. Spurs: Rajon Rondo’s Triple Double Leads Boston To Victory
The Spurs' run included a questionable steal by Tony Parker as Paul Pierce tried to bring the ball up the court. Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge requested explanation from the officials:
It may be confirmation bias, but it does seem as if referees will allow a bit of contact on plays like that in endgame situations. Whatever the case, the Celtics had established enough of a lead in crunch time to make the Spurs' deficit too great to make up, even as Ray Allen missed two free throws with Boston up two with eight seconds left. On San Antonio's final real attempt of the game, Pierce got a block, allowing Rajon Rondo to grab his 10th rebound.
That board gave Rondo his 11th career triple-double with 16 points, 22 assists and the 10 caroms. The assist total was the second-highest in Rondo's career, behind a 24-dime night against the New York Knicks earlier this season. The performance signified the full return of Rondo from a troubling hamstring injury that knocked the point guard out of the second half of December.
The Spurs defense is in dire straits, having given up 61 percent shooting to the Celtics a night after allowing the Knicks to shoot 55 percent.
See More:
