|
 The young Timberwolves built double-digit leads in all four
quarters, then hung on late for a 124-122 win over the Boston
Celtics at Target Center on Monday.
Rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns led all players with 28 points and
13 rebounds, helping Minnesota snap a brief two-game losing streak.
Boston (33-25) lost for the fourth time in its past 15 games but
finished a three-game road trip against Northwest Division foes 1-2.
The Timberwolves (18-39) led by as many as 10 with less than two
minutes to play, but they missed four of their final six free throws
to keep the Celtics in it. Boston guard Marcus Smart had a 3-point
shot from 30 feet miss short off the rim at the final horn.
"It should have never gotten to that point," a disappointed Towns
said afterward. "We got sloppy as a team. It's great that we got the
'W' but for me personally, I'm just not happy with the way we
executed at the end."
Boston outscored Minnesota 38-31 in the final quarter to make a game
of it.
"Their guys played to the end and played fast," said Wolves interim
coach Sam Mitchell. "We made some mistakes defensively then missed
some free throws. But it was a good win. It worked out for us
tonight."
Towns was dominant, especially early, scoring 15 points in the first
quarter as Minnesota led by 16 at one point. Boston closed the frame
on an 8-0 run but the Wolves led 31-23 after one.
The Celtics continued their push to open the second. A layup by
Smart gave Boston its first lead at 32-31 and punctuated a 17-0 run.
Another lay-in by forward Jonas Jerebko just over a minute later
gave Boston its largest lead of the night at 37-34 before the Wolves
went on a 14-2 spurt to take an 11-point lead.
"Size was a huge factor," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "(But) I
thought there were some things that we can control that we can do
better."
Towns had 20 first-half points and channeled Minnesota-native and
former Celtics legend Kevin McHale on one pretty up-and-under finish
at the rim, helping the Wolves to a 59-53 advantage at the break.
"He got us off to such a great start scoring the basketball,"
Mitchell said. "Then other guys started chipping in."
One of those guys was Shabazz Muhammad, who scored 13 points in 20
minutes off the bench. Point guard Ricky Rubio chipped in with 15
points, eight rebounds and eight assists and backup point Tyus Jones
added a season-high nine points in 14 minutes to keep Minnesota
afloat with Rubio resting on the bench.
Wolves forward Gorgui Dieng, starting in place of an injured Kevin
Garnett, had 17 points and 12 rebounds. All five starters for
Minnesota finished in double figures.
[to top of second column] |
"We had no answer for them (inside)," Stevens said. "Towns had his
way with us the whole night. Their other guys did too, but he stood
out."
Boston got within two points at 66-64 on a 3-pointer by guard Avery
Bradley less than four minutes into the third quarter to get to
within 66-64 before Minnesota went on a 15-4 run.
Boston threatened one final time in the third, scoring six quick
points to narrow its deficit to four points. But Dieng pushed the
Wolves' lead to nine points headed to the fourth on a three at the
buzzer that banked in. A quick video review confirmed the call on
the floor.
The Celtics were led by forward Jae Crawford's 27 points and nine
rebounds. All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas had 18 points and dished out
nine assists. Bradley had 22 points, and Smart added 17 off the
bench.
Thomas scored six points in the final 90 seconds and Bradley drilled
a late 3-pointer to get within one at 123-122. Wolves guard Zach
LaVine, who finished with 16 points, made 1 of 2 at the line before
Smart's open look at the horn missed.
"I think they outworked us tonight," Crawford said. "When they're
getting 50-50 balls ... I don't think it's a matter of size, I think
they just outworked us."
Minnesota owned a 51-38 edge on the glass and finished shooting 51.8
percent from the floor compared to 48.5 percent by Boston.
NOTES: Celtics G Marcus Smart was active despite a jammed right
thumb that he initially hurt Friday against the Utah Jazz. Smart had
10 points and four steals off the bench in a win over the Denver
Nuggets on Sunday. ... Timberwolves F Nemanja Bjelica had an MRI
performed on his sore right foot on Monday, revealing a strain.
Bjelica is expected to travel with the Wolves on their upcoming
three-game road trip but will not play. He is considered
week-to-week. ... Boston will return home to open a five-game
homestand Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden. ...
Minnesota will begin its three-game trip Wednesday against the
Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
