The 25-9 Boston Celtics take on the 15-20 San Antonio Spurs at TD Garden, with Boston looking to get back in the win column after dropping a game to the Washington Wizards Jan. 6.
The meeting is the second of two for the 2019-20 NBA season, Boston winning the prior on the road 135-115.
San Antonio won their last game, a 126-104 victory over the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks, and five of their last ten to hold the Western Conference’s eighth slot.
Boston, holding on to the East’s second slot ahead of the Miami Heat and behind the Bucks, has won eight of its last 10 games, but has been winning them narrowly over inferior teams, save Monday’s tilt with the Wizards.
Boston will be without centers Vincent Poirier (broken finger) and Robert Williams III (left hip bone edema), but Williams may be getting close to a return if his meeting with specialists this week is favorable, reports Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald.
TONIGHT ☘ Celtics vs @spurs
📍 @tdgarden
🕢 7:00PM ET
📺 @NBCSBoston
🎙@985TheSportsHub #BleedGreen pic.twitter.com/sHXqjlUGAl— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 8, 2020
If center Daniel Theis’ knee continues to bother him, the Celtics may need Williams, as the German big man is also questionable with left knee soreness. Boston may also be without the services of starting point guard Kemba Walker and rookie Romeo Langford, both of whom have missed time to illness.
The Spurs will be at full health for the contest.
The Celtics should have the advantage even with a number of players being out injured, reflected in online sportsbook spreads averaging -5.5 for Boston.
However, as San Antonio has demonstrated they can take out even the mighty Bucks when they aren’t locked in, Boston simply cannot come out with the level of effort they have in recent games and expect to win.
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