NBA: Victor Wembanyama's 39-point double-double leads Spurs past Celtics

Victor Wembanyama scored 39 points, including a career-high-tying eight 3-pointers, and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 125-116 victory over a short-handed Boston Celtics on Tuesday in a matchup of two top NBA teams.

Boston's leading scorer this season, Jaylen Brown, had just eight points before being ejected with 3:38 remaining in the second quarter, with the Celtics leading by two.

The Spurs entered the fourth quarter with a seven-point lead, but Boston narrowed it to 106-105. Wembanyama then sparked a decisive run, delivering a powerful dunk followed by his eighth 3-pointer of the game on back-to-back possessions with 5:57 left. That stretch kicked off a 12-0 run that included two jumpers and a free throw by Devin Vassell, giving San Antonio a 13-point cushion. The Spurs maintained their lead to claim their fifth straight win and their 16th victory in 17 games.

De’Aaron Fox contributed 25 points for San Antonio, Stephon Castle added 18, and Vassell scored 14.

For Boston, Derrick White led with 34 points, while Jayson Tatum scored 24 in just his third game back since tearing his right Achilles last May. Ron Harper Jr. added a career-high 22 points, and Sam Hauser contributed 11. The Celtics’ two-game winning streak came to an end.

The game started with both teams exchanging leads, with the Spurs going up by as many as eight points early in the first quarter. Boston fought back to take a seven-point advantage, ending the quarter ahead 31-29.

In the second quarter, Boston extended their lead to seven at 51-49 before the momentum shifted. Brown was ejected after receiving two consecutive technical fouls for arguing about a no-call when he was pushed out of bounds, marking only the second ejection of his career.

Wembanyama’s free throws with 3:26 left in the first half tied the game at 51. Boston regained the lead, and White’s free throws at 1:40 put the Celtics up 58-54. San Antonio closed the half with the final four points to tie the score at 58.

At halftime, Wembanyama led all scorers with 15 points, Fox had 13, and Castle added 10. White paced Boston with 13 points, while Tatum had 10.

—Field Level Media/Reuters