SAN ANTONIO, March 16 (UPI) -- Tim Duncan collected 37 points and 10 rebounds and Danny Ferry hit two crucial three-pointers in the final two minutes Saturday night as the San Antonio Spurs held off the Celtics, 111-104, in a battle of the league's hottest teams.
San Antonio stretched its winning streak to nine games, one shy of its season high set from Dec. 1-21.
Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce each scored 31 points for the Celtics, who had a season-high seven-game winning streak snapped. Boston has dropped 12 straight and 15 of its last 16 against San Antonio.
San Antonio erased a 79-75 deficit late in the third quarter with a 9-0 run that continued into the fourth period. The Spurs extended their lead to 99-89 on Malik Rose's dunk with 3:42 left.
The Celtics did not go quietly, reeling off eight straight points to close to 99-97 on Pierce's three-point play with 2:31 left.
On the Spurs' next possession, Ferry was left wide open in the left corner and drilled a 3-pointer to give the Spurs a five-point lead. He scored 13 of his season-high 18 points in the final period.
The Celtics pulled within 104-101 on Walker's pull-up jumper with 48 seconds left. Ferry answered with another three-pointer, making it 107-101 with 30 seconds to play.
