Boston stifle Minnesota Comeback, Celtics Win 107-105 vs T-Wolves

After a fast cease in Washington to fulfill the president and beat the Wizards, the Celtics got here again residence to face off in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 2 video games Boston performed in opposition to Minnesota final yr had been additional time thrillers with tons of memorable moments, together with a Jayson Tatum masterclass the place he dropped 45 factors in arguably the perfect recreation of the common season.

Going into this recreation, the Timberwolves are a distinct crew this time round. Changing Karl-Anthony Cities with Julius Randle has yielded blended outcomes to start out the season however with Anthony Edwards enjoying a few of the finest basketball of his profession, Minnesota nonetheless seems to be to be a professional title contender. The Timberwolves had been with out veteran guard Mike Conley for this matchup and for the Celtics, Luke Kornet was dominated out with a hamstring damage.

Jaylen Brown began the sport scorching sizzling, as he scored the primary 15 factors within the first 5 minutes for the Celtics on 5 straight threes from past the arc. The constructing was buzzing however the remainder of the Celtics weren’t in a position to get something going whereas the Timberwolves stayed within the recreation.

Exterior of Brown’s offensive explosion, the Celtics began out chilly, lacking each shot within the first quarter till Jrue Vacation acquired free throws on the 2:50 mark. Xavier Tillman obtained early first quarter minutes over Neemias Queta and Jayson Tatum didn’t play the whole first quarter for under the second time all season.

Photograph by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photos

The Timberwolves had been in a position to assault the Celtics within the paint however Payton Pritchard saved Boston within the recreation with 5 factors coming off the bench. Minnesota led the Celtics 27-24 after the opening quarter as each groups seemed locked in for a defensive battle.

The Celtics offense woke as much as start the second quarter, rallying off a 9-0 run with Rudy Gobert on the bench for Minnesota. Julius Randle saved the Timberwolves within the recreation with 7 straight factors. He was a matchup nightmare with Tillman and Tatum being the one bigs on the ground.

Gobert was a menace on the boards with 12 rebounds within the first half alone however the Celtics protection was in a position to stymy the Timberwolves on the rim on second probability alternatives. Al Horford again to again threes in transition, Derrick White three with a Minnesota foul beneath the basket, two Tatum free throws, and two Brown free throws gave the Celtics their greatest lead of the half at 12 factors.

The Celtics protection acquired sloppy in the direction of the tip of the half because the Timberwolves ended on a 9-0 run and minimize Boston’s result in 55-52 going into the break. Jaylen Brown (17 factors) and Jayson Tatum (13 factors) mixed for 30 of the Celtics 55 factors within the first half factors. Julius Randle led Minnesota with 14 factors after two quarters and Anthony Edwards had a considerably quiet first half with 12 factors. Boston’s 12 threes carried their offense because the Celtics solely scored 8 factors within the paint after 2 quarters.

Each groups began out sluggish to start the third quarter, however a Jayson Tatum three on the 9:50 mark began a 14-0 run for Boston that included Jaylen Brown’s sixth three pointer of the sport. Minnesota known as a timeout but it surely didn’t assist as Boston continued to pour it on and enhance their result in 15 and one other Timberwolves timeout.

Derrick White began his personal block occasion out of the timeout as he despatched again a Nickeil Alexander-Walker three and denied an Anthony Edwards layup try. Minnesota wouldn’t go away as Anthony Edwards began to make his presence recognized with again to again threes as part of an 8-0 run however Boston was in a position to counter with a Vacation layup over Naz Reid and a Payton Pritchard and-1 over Rob Dillingham.

The Celtics greatest lead of the quarter was 19 however Boston missed 7 straight from past the arc and Minnesota minimize the deficit to 11, making it 84-73 after the three quarters.

Photograph by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photos

Rob Dillingham turned the Timberwolves predominant catalyst of offense to start the fourth quarter, scoring 8 factors within the quarter as Minnesota tried a comeback. Brown and White had been in a position to keep the Celtics double digit lead till Donte DiVincenzo hit a 3 with 6:57 to go to chop the result in 7.

Anthony Edwards made it a 4 level recreation with a 3 however the Celtics had been in a position to dominate the paint as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown picked on Alexander-Walker to increase the lead. After White and Edwards traded threes, Jaden McDaniels rose above everybody to make it a two level recreation with 2 minutes to go, erasing the Celtics 19 level lead.

With an opportunity to offer Minnesota the lead, Anthony Edwards missed a 3. Jayson Tatum acquired the rebound and threw it forward of the pack to Derrick White. White discovered Vacation who discovered Jaylen Brown streaking down the court docket for a pull up three to make it a 5 level Celtics lead with 1:15 to go.

Julius Randle went 1-2 from the free throw line out of the Timberwolves timeout and a missed Horford three led to a different Randle layup, 2 level recreation. Jaylen Brown introduced it up for Boston however couldn’t discover something. He dribbled out the clock a hoisted a 31 footer that simply missed as DiVincenzo grabbed the rebound and Minnesota known as a timeout with 7.1 seconds left.

Randle inbounded to Edwards, he drove, kicked it to McDaniels within the nook who handed it to Naz Reid on the prime of the three level line, he shoots, and it clanked off the rim, the Celtics survive Minnesota’s comeback try.

The Jays led the best way for Boston on this one, combining for 55 factors together with some huge pictures down the stretch. Brown completed with 29 factors on 10-18 capturing from the sphere and 7-10 from three whereas Jayson Tatum completed with 26 factors and eight rebounds. Regardless of the loss, Anthony Edwards completed with a stat line of 28 factors, 9 rebounds and seven assists as he virtually led the Timberwolves to a win.

The Celtics subsequent recreation is tomorrow, Monday November twenty fifth at 7:30pm, in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a house again to again.