Celtics extend Timberwolves' Boston losing streak to 18 games
The Celtics secured a narrow 107-105 victory over the Timberwolves on Sunday afternoon, extending Minnesota’s losing streak in Boston to 18 games.
Boston fended off a spirited comeback from the Timberwolves, who at one point trailed by 19 points. Rudy Gobert dominated the boards with 20 rebounds, while Anthony Edwards poured in 28 points to keep the game competitive.
Jaylen Brown was on fire early, sinking his first five 3-point attempts. He also made the decisive defensive play in the game’s final moments, forcing Edwards into a difficult decision on his drive.
On the last possession, Edwards passed the ball to Jaden McDaniels in the corner. McDaniels then found Nas Reid at the top of the key for a potential game-winning 3-pointer. However, Reid’s shot bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded, sealing Boston’s victory.
“They ran that same play out of bounds three or four times, so I pre-switched with JT because they wanted to get me off of Ant-man,” Brown explained. “So, I pre-switched, switched right to him so I was on the ball. He’s good going to his left-hand, so I just wanted to crowd him a little bit, make it tough for him, and waste some time.”
Brown added, “If he did go up to score, I was going to be able to challenge it at the time. He kicked it out. I’m not sure if Reid got it off, but it was a good defensive possession.”
The Timberwolves haven’t won in Boston since March 6, 2005. That victory was led by Kevin Garnett, who posted an impressive stat line with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists, falling just shy of a triple-double. Garnett, who later won a championship with Boston, was instrumental in that game. On the other side, Ricky Davis led the Celtics with 22 points.
Interestingly, Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell was playing for the Timberwolves during that season, and Celtics legend Kevin McHale served as Minnesota’s head coach.
Since then, the Celtics have repeatedly edged out the Timberwolves at TD Garden in tightly contested games. Notable matchups include an overtime thriller last January and another close game in April 2021. Four of the last five contests between these teams in Boston have been decided by 12 points or fewer.
The Timberwolves managed to defeat the Celtics during their last meeting in Minnesota in November. The two teams are set to clash again at the Target Center on January 2. Will Minnesota finally break the curse in Boston next season? Time will tell.
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