MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jayson Tatum delivered a standout performance with 33 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, propelling the Boston Celtics to a 118-115 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night. Derrick White also made significant contributions for Boston, scoring 26 points, while Sam Hauser stepped up in place of the injured Jaylen Brown, sinking five 3-pointers and notching 15 points. On the Timberwolves’ side, Julius Randle led the charge with 27 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, with Naz Reid adding 20 points off the bench and Jaden McDaniels contributing 19 points and eight boards.
Despite trailing by eight points with just two minutes remaining, the Timberwolves mounted a late surge to give themselves a chance to force overtime. However, Anthony Edwards’ final attempt from beyond the arc fell short as time expired.
In terms of takeaways, the Celtics, who had a somewhat lackluster 8-6 record in December following a strong start to the season, kicked off the new year and a four-game road trip by securing an important win in Minnesota. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves, coming off a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier in the week, narrowly missed out on a victory against the Celtics, highlighting their competitive spirit against top-tier opponents.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred midway through the second quarter when Tatum’s free throw and subsequent back-to-back 3-pointers ignited a crucial 16-6 run for the Celtics, allowing them to establish a 62-51 lead heading into halftime.
Statistically, Boston’s ball security stood out as they committed just four turnovers, compared to the Timberwolves’ 16 turnovers over the course of the game.
Looking ahead, the Celtics will continue their road trip with a visit to Houston on Friday, while the Timberwolves are set to face the Pistons in Detroit on Saturday.
For more NBA coverage and updates, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
