Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Jan 2, 2025 10:22 pm

Jayson Tatum, Celtics hold off Timberwolves

celtics timberwolves

Jayson Tatum scored 33 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished nine assists, and the Boston Celtics held on for a 118-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in Minneapolis.

Derrick White added 26 points on 10-for-20 shooting for Boston, which won its second game in a row. Sam Hauser chipped in 15 points and Jrue Holiday scored 11.

Julius Randle had 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead Minnesota. Naz Reid finished with 20 points off the bench and Jaden McDaniels scored 19.

The Celtics won despite playing without key starters Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis. Brown was sidelined because of a right shoulder strain and Porzingis was held out because of a sprained left ankle.

Boston shot 50 percent (46 of 92) from the field and 38.6 percent (22 of 57) from beyond the arc. Minnesota shot 50.7 percent (37 of 73) overall and 55.3 percent (21 of 39) from 3-point range.

Turnovers bit the Timberwolves, who have struggled recently to take care of the ball. Minnesota committed 16 turnovers, and Boston committed only four.

The Celtics led by as many as 14 points before the Timberwolves rallied to make it 94-94 with 9:16 remaining. Donte DiVincenzo drained a 3-pointer to even the score.

Tatum, who finished 13 of 27 from the field, helped Boston stave off the comeback attempt. He drilled a jump shot from 14 feet to give Boston a 112-104 edge with 4:20 to play.

White also stepped up in Brown’s absence to provide the Celtics with a secondary scorer behind Tatum. White made a step-back 3-pointer to increase Boston’s lead to 115-107 with 2:59 to go. After Reid hit a 3-pointer for Minnesota on the next possession, White struck again with a 3-pointer to make it 118-110.

The Timberwolves scored the final five points on a layup by Reid and three free throws by DiVincenzo but ran out of time to complete their late rally.

Boston built a 62-51 lead at the half. Tatum and Hauser led the Celtics with 12 points apiece before the break, and Randle had 15 points for Minnesota.

–Field Level Media

You may also like

jace howard
Apr 29, 2025 10:18 pm

Ex-Michigan G Jace Howard, son of Juwan, commits to Fordham

Former Michigan guard Jace Howard announced Tuesday night that he is transferring to Fordham. Howard is the son of former Michigan star player and former coach Juwan Howard. “Let’s get…

giannis
Apr 29, 2025 9:15 pm

Tyrese Haliburton rallies Pacers past Bucks to win series

Tyrese Haliburton scored 26 points, including the go-ahead layup with 1.4 seconds remaining in overtime, and the Indiana Pacers rallied for a 119-118 win over the Milwaukee Bucks to clinch…

stephon castle
Apr 29, 2025 8:20 pm

Stephon Castle named Rookie of the Year, second straight for Spurs

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle was the runaway winner of the NBA Rookie of the Year award on Tuesday. Castle is the second straight San Antonio player to win…

More Basketball News

jace howard
Apr 29, 2025 10:18 pm

Ex-Michigan G Jace Howard, son of Juwan, commits to Fordham

Former Michigan guard Jace Howard announced Tuesday night that he is transferring to Fordham. Howard is the son of former Michigan star player and former coach Juwan Howard. “Let’s get…

giannis
Apr 29, 2025 9:15 pm

Tyrese Haliburton rallies Pacers past Bucks to win series

stephon castle
Apr 29, 2025 8:20 pm

Stephon Castle named Rookie of the Year, second straight for Spurs

UCF Mikey Williams
Apr 29, 2025 7:20 pm

Former HS phenom Mikey Williams to transfer to Sacramento State

anthony edwards
Apr 29, 2025 6:45 pm

Lakers face elimination, battle Timberwolves in Game 5

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds