Lead: On Jan. 10, 2026 in Boston, Victor Wembanyama poured in 21 points, 16 of them in the second half, and hit a go-ahead jumper with 19.2 seconds remaining as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Boston Celtics 100-95. De’Aaron Fox also scored 21 points and Keldon Johnson finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio. Derrick White led Boston with 29 points and Jaylen Brown added 27 in a game that dropped the Celtics to 3 losses in their last 12 contests. The Spurs snapped a two-game skid and improved to back-to-back wins.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: San Antonio Spurs 100, Boston Celtics 95 on Jan. 10, 2026 in Boston.
- Victor Wembanyama: 21 points total, 16 in the second half, including the decisive jumper with 19.2 seconds left.
- De’Aaron Fox scored 21 points; Keldon Johnson posted 18 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.
- Derrick White led the Celtics with 29 points; Jaylen Brown added 27.
- Critical sequence: game tied at 84; Baylor Scheierman hit a corner 3 for Boston with just under seven minutes left, but a 9-2 Spurs run shifted the lead late.
- Late key plays: Wembanyama fadeaway at 1:33, Fox strip of Brown, Julian Champagnie putback at 41 seconds to make it 97-93, then Wembanyama’s left-wing jumper made it 99-95.
- Wembanyama returned from a brief knee absence and did not score until a second-quarter 3, then scored nine straight in the third to erase a nine-point deficit.
Background
The Spurs entered Boston seeking improvement after a two-game losing stretch; the win marked consecutive victories for San Antonio. The Celtics were building momentum—prior to this game they had lost just twice in their previous 11 matchups, making this the third loss in a 12-game span. Victor Wembanyama has been a central figure for the Spurs this season; his availability had been a storyline because he missed two games with a sore knee before playing his third straight on Jan. 10.
Boston’s defensive approach showed clear intent to contain Wembanyama early, employing doubles and quick help when he attacked the rim. San Antonio countered by relying more on De’Aaron Fox’s playmaking and Keldon Johnson’s interior work. The matchup also featured role players swinging momentum: Baylor Scheierman’s corner 3 temporarily put Boston ahead late, while Julian Champagnie’s offensive rebound and putback provided a brief cushion for San Antonio in the final minute.
Main Event
The game was competitive throughout. After a tied score at 84, Scheierman hit a corner three that nudged Boston ahead with under seven minutes to play, and White followed with a driving basket. San Antonio responded with a 9-2 run that culminated in Johnson’s 3-pointer, giving the Spurs a 93-91 lead with 2:14 remaining.
Jaylen Brown’s layup tied the score, then Wembanyama’s fadeaway at 1:33 put the Spurs back on top. The play combined post-up footwork and a mid-range finish, breaking the deadlock in a tightly contested final stretch. Brown was stripped near midcourt by De’Aaron Fox on the ensuing possession, and Julian Champagnie converted an offensive-board putback after missing his own shot to make it 97-93 with 41 seconds left.
After a Celtics timeout, Wembanyama knocked down a left-wing jumper to push the lead to 99-95. Boston had a chance to tie or take the lead in the final possession(s) but could not convert, and the Spurs closed out the 100-95 victory. The sequence underscored San Antonio’s late-possession execution and Boston’s inability to secure defensive rebounds in the final minute.
Analysis & Implications
Wembanyama’s second-half scoring surge—16 of his 21 points—was the decisive factor. He was quiet early, opening his night with a second-quarter 3, but his third-quarter streak (nine straight points) erased a nine-point deficit and swung momentum permanently. For the Spurs, the ability to lean on his post presence late suggests coach rotations are trusting Wembanyama in high-leverage situations despite recent knee soreness.
De’Aaron Fox’s defensive hustle (including the strip of Brown) and sustained scoring balanced San Antonio’s offense. Fox’s versatility to attack in transition and force turnovers complements Wembanyama’s half-court finishing; together they represent a two-pronged late-game threat. Keldon Johnson’s 18/10 double-double also signaled San Antonio’s ability to win physical battles on the glass when necessary.
For Boston, White and Brown combined for 56 points but the supporting cast’s late-season lapses—missed defensive rebounds and a failure to close out on perimeter shooters—were costly. The Celtics’ early game plan to crowd Wembanyama limited his first-half production, but the team’s rotation choices and execution faltered when San Antonio shifted tempo after halftime.
Looking ahead, San Antonio travels to Minnesota on Sunday; the back-to-back scheduling will test the Spurs’ depth and whether Wembanyama’s knee holds up with increased minutes. Boston heads to Indiana on Monday; the Celtics will aim to shore up late-game defense and rebounding to avoid similar finishes against interior-oriented opponents.
Comparison & Data
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | Spurs | 21 | — |
| De’Aaron Fox | Spurs | 21 | — |
| Keldon Johnson | Spurs | 18 | 10 |
| Derrick White | Celtics | 29 | — |
| Jaylen Brown | Celtics | 27 | — |
The table highlights the primary scoring contributors; rebound totals beyond Johnson’s 10 were not detailed in the game summary provided. Wembanyama’s scoring spike in the second half and Johnson’s double-double were the statistical pillars of San Antonio’s victory. The contrast between Boston’s top-end scoring and San Antonio’s balanced late-game production explains the final outcome in a five-point game.
Reactions & Quotes
Paraphrased postgame observation: San Antonio staff and coverage noted that Wembanyama’s second-half aggressiveness changed the game’s trajectory and that his late jumper was decisive.
ESPN (game recap, media)
Paraphrased Boston reaction: Media accounts described the Celtics’ defensive plan to crowd Wembanyama early but flagged late rebound and closeout issues as the decisive difference.
AP/NBA hub (news aggregator)
Paraphrased public response: Beat reporters and local coverage emphasized Fox’s hustle play (strip of Brown) and Champagnie’s timely putback as crucial possessions in the final minute.
ESPN/AP coverage (media)
Unconfirmed
- Precise status and long-term impact of Wembanyama’s knee soreness beyond the brief absence are not confirmed in the game report.
- Any planned lineup or rotation adjustments by either team for upcoming games were not detailed in the sources and remain unconfirmed.
Bottom Line
San Antonio’s 100-95 win in Boston on Jan. 10, 2026 hinged on a second-half surge by Victor Wembanyama and timely contributions from De’Aaron Fox and Keldon Johnson. The Spurs converted late possessions better than the Celtics, with a decisive stretch that included a defensive turnover and an offensive rebound putback inside the final minute.
The result is a short-term boost for San Antonio—consecutive wins after a skid—and a reminder for Boston about late-game defensive fundamentals and rebound control. The upcoming back-to-back schedules for both clubs will test depth and durability, particularly regarding Wembanyama’s minutes and knee management.