Another competitive showing from the Minnesota Timberwolves saw them come up just short against the Boston Celtics.
The last time the Minnesota Timberwolves won in TD Garden against the Boston Celtics was 2005.
The Celtics won out 107-105 in a competitive game on November 24, ensuring their long winning streak over the Timberwolves stays intact.
Jaylen Brown scored 29 and Jayson Tatum 26 as the Celtics came out hot and refused to relinquish their advantage, despite Minnesota’s best efforts to keep the game close.
Jayson Tatum’s shooting range is back
The Celtics won their previous game against the struggling Washington Wizards, in the NBA Cup, without being at their most efficient.
Jayson Tatum had a very poor night, scoring only 16 points, and going 0 for 10 from the three point range.
Against the Timberwolves, Tatum showed he was back. He went 5 for 12 on three-pointers, showing his performance against the Wizards was just an aberration.
Tatum’s shooting left Celtics broadcast commentator Brian Scalabrine blown away, with the former Boston player praising his quick release and accuracy.
Speaking in the third quarter about how quickly Tatum is able to get into position from range, Scalabrine said: “People don’t understand how difficult it is to pick and pop, and get right into your shot.
“The fact he can check the ball and make a play from there, it is really tough to stop that play.”
He was also impressed by the height Tatum got on a shot that evaded the defense of Rudy Gobert.
Scalabrine said, after watching it on replay: “I don’t know how he got this one off, it’s like he shot through his hand. When I watched it live, I thought ‘for sure he is blocking this shot’.”
Jaylen Brown was the star
While Jayson Tatum’s improved three-point shooting was one of the stories of the game, Jaylen Brown managed to outdo him.
Brown scored the Celtics’ first 15 points of the game with five consecutive three point shots. He tried to follow it up with a sixth – but an airball followed.
He scored a vital three late in the fourth that extended the Celtics’ lead, ending the night 7 for 10, and 29 in total.
The win moves the Celtics to 14-3 for the season, while the Timberwolves now fall to 8-8, having suffered a surprise loss to the Raptors days earlier.
This win tops a good week for the Celtics, who beat the Cavaliers in the NBA Cup, and they now have a break until Thursday when they face the Chicago Bulls.
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