BOSTON — In an impressive display of shooting, Jaylen Brown kicked off the Celtics’ scoring with 15 points coming from five straight 3-pointers, ultimately contributing a total of 29 points as Boston claimed a narrow 107-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
Jayson Tatum also played a critical role, adding 26 points along with eight rebounds, helping the Celtics secure their season-high fifth consecutive win. For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards led the effort with 28 points and nine rebounds, although the team has struggled recently, losing five of their last seven games. Julius Randle provided 23 points, while Rudy Gobert recorded a remarkable 10 points and 20 rebounds, marking his eighth double-double this season.
The game saw the Timberwolves narrowing the gap to 55-54 early in the third quarter, but the Celtics responded with a powerful 14-0 run, featuring four 3-pointers, including two from Tatum. This crucial momentum shift allowed Boston to extend their lead to a commanding 79-60 with 4:26 left in the third quarter.
However, the Timberwolves made a strong push in the fourth quarter and managed to close the deficit to a mere two points, 107-105, following a driving layup by Randle with only 34 seconds remaining on the clock.
Takeaways from the game indicate that the Timberwolves will be eager to secure some victories at home, having experienced a tough stretch with four losses in their last five away games. The Celtics, while facing home struggles earlier in the season, improved their record to 6-2 at TD Garden.
A pivotal moment came when Minnesota held possession with just 7.1 seconds left, presenting them with a chance to clinch a win. Edwards received the inbounds pass and attempted to penetrate against Brown but was effectively cut off. The ball then shifted to Naz Reid, who was unable to get off a 3-pointer before time expired.
A noteworthy statistic from the game was that Boston assisted on 25 of its 37 successful field goal attempts, showcasing effective team play.
Looking ahead, the Timberwolves are set to host the Houston Rockets on Tuesday as they begin a four-game homestand, while the Celtics will face off against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.