The Spurs quickly found themselves down 7-2 after the Celtics got off to a good start offensively. Pop called a time out about halfway through the first, but the struggles continued and SA needed another one after falling down 18-8. Two threes from Kawhi Leonard late in the quarter, part of an 11-3 Spurs run, put SA back in it. The second unit, with Kawhi, was able to gain the lead, and the Spurs had a 29-27 advantage going into the second.
The bench unit continued to produce to begin the second and extended the lead to six as the starters began to sprinkle back into the line up, but Avery Bradley was able to keep the Celtics in the game, who had 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting a few minutes into the second.