That second tier is where both the Spurs and tonight’s opponents find themselves (although the Spurs are starting to create their own cushion at the top of that tier), with the Minnesota Timberwolves generally meeting expectations for the season while the Spurs have exceeded them considering most level-headed predictions had them more in that third tier.

BOSTON — Sam Hauser was downgraded on the Celtics injury report with right hamstring tightness for the 8 p.m. Saturday game against the Spurs. He was a late scratch roughly a couple hours before the game. Josh Minott will miss his third straight game with a left ankle sprain. Jayson Tatum remains out with his Achilles rehab.

Aston Villa easily built a 2-0 halftime lead on Spurs then had to hold on for a 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

A successful cup run had bought Frank's predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, time last season, but first-half goals by Villa duo Emiliano Buendía and Morgan Rogers were enough to inflict a fourth defeat from Tottenham's last seven matches.

The Celtics had their chances against the Spurs, but they couldn’t close Saturday at TD Garden. It was the Victor Wembanyama show for stretches as the Spurs pulled away 100-95 over the C’s in an impressive road victory.

De’Aaron Fox scored 24 points and the San Antonio Spurs won their first game since Victor Wembanyama injured his left knee, beating the Indiana 123-113 on Friday night for the Pacers’ 11th straight loss.

De'Aaron Fox scored a game-high 29 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 117-102 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Christmas.

The San Antonio Spurs handed the Oklahoma City Thunder just their second loss of the season in the NBA Cup semifinals.

Get ready for a thrilling NBA clash as the Boston Celtics host the San Antonio Spurs tonight at 8 pm ET. Despite key absences for Boston, both teams boast impressive records. The Spurs, led by the unstoppable Victor Wembanyama,

COACHES Spurs: Mitch Johnson. Celtics: Joe Mazzulla. STAT LEADERS Spurs: Points, Wembanyama (24.2 per game). Rebounds, Wembanyama (11.5). Assists, Castle (6.9). Steals, Fox (1.4). Blocks, Wembanyama (2.9).

Spurs rookie Carter Bryant debuted in the G League on Friday, helping the Austin Spurs to a home win over the South Bay Lakers.