Boston didn’t win this one with a runaway stretch — it won it with control in the moments that decide games. The Celtics finished the night with a decisive fourth quarter, outscoring the Memphis Grizzlies 33-24 to secure a 117-112 win Saturday at FedExForum.
The result keeps Boston rolling at 47-23 (WWWWL) and drops Memphis to 24-45 (LWLLL), another close loss in a season that’s offered too few clean finishes.
How the game swung
Through three quarters, Memphis looked capable of flipping the script. After trailing by one at the half (55-54), the Grizzlies delivered their best frame in the third, winning it 34-29 to take a 88-84 lead into the fourth.
Boston’s response was immediate and clinical. The Celtics’ 33-point fourth quarter erased the deficit and created separation late, while Memphis’ offense stalled to 24 points in the period — the difference in a five-point game.
Quarter-by-quarter snapshot
First quarter: Boston 29, Memphis 27 — the Celtics set the early pace in a tight opening.
Second quarter: Memphis 27, Boston 26 — the Grizzlies trimmed the margin and took a one-point edge into halftime.
Third quarter: Memphis 34, Boston 29 — Memphis’ best stretch gave it a four-point cushion.
Fourth quarter: Boston 33, Memphis 24 — Boston’s closing punch decided it.
Playmaking profile: Celtics win the finish, Grizzlies win the assist count
Memphis generated more assisted offense overall, finishing with 24 assists to Boston’s 19. But the assist edge didn’t translate into fourth-quarter control, where Boston’s shot-making and late-game execution swung the outcome.
What it means going forward
For Boston, this was a professional road win: absorb a third-quarter surge, then lock in late and take the game with a dominant fourth. At 47-23, the Celtics continue to stack results and show they can win without needing a perfect 48 minutes.
For Memphis, the loss reinforces the current trend. The Grizzlies played well enough for three quarters — even winning the middle two frames — but couldn’t sustain it when the game tightened. At 24-45, the margin for error is gone, and closing quarters remain the clearest pressure point.