The Boston Celtics continued their impressive home dominance over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a narrow 107-105 victory on Sunday afternoon, marking their 18th consecutive win against Minnesota at TD Garden.
The Celtics initially built a significant lead, going ahead by as much as 19 points, but the Timberwolves mounted a strong comeback effort that kept the game exciting until the final buzzer. Standout performances included Anthony Edwards, who scored 28 points, and Rudy Gobert, who dominated the boards with 20 rebounds.
Jaylen Brown got the Celtics off to a fantastic start, making his first five 3-point attempts of the game. In a crucial moment during the game’s final play, Brown played a pivotal role in defending against Edwards, successfully preventing him from scoring on his drive. Edwards opted to pass the ball out, leading to Nas Reid’s last-second 3-point attempt, which just missed the mark, sealing the game for Boston.
Minnesota’s struggles in Boston date back to March 6, 2005, when they last emerged victorious in a game led by Kevin Garnett, who finished just one assist shy of a triple-double. Notably, Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell was part of that Timberwolves team, and Kevin McHale was the head coach of Minnesota at that time.
Since that memorable game, the Celtics have consistently defeated the Timberwolves in closely contested matchups, with recent games often being determined by small margins. This patterns shows the Celtics’ resilience and ability to secure wins at home, fostering a sense of hope for their continued success as the season progresses.
The Timberwolves will have an opportunity for redemption when they face the Celtics again at the Target Center on January 2, 2024, a game that promises to be fiercely competitive.
Overall, the Celtics’ performance illustrates their strong home-court advantage and a cohesive team dynamic that fans can be excited about moving forward in the season.