MINNEAPOLIS — — Jayson Tatum had 33 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-115 on Thursday night.
Derrick White scored 26 points for Boston, while Sam Hauser — filling in for the injured Jaylen Brown — hit five 3-pointers and scored 15 points.
Julius Randle led Minnesota with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Naz Reid added 20 points off the bench, while Jaden McDaniels had 19 points and eight boards.
The Timberwolves trailed by eight with two minutes to play but they had a chance to send it into overtime. However, Anthony Edwards‘ 3-pointer fell short at the buzzer.
Celtics: After winning 16 of its first 19 games, Boston had a ho-hum 8-6 record in December. A victory in Minnesota was a great way to kick off a four-game road trip to start 2025.
Timberwolves: Minnesota began the week with a chance to test itself against one of the heavy hitters in each conference. After a 113-105 loss at Oklahoma City on Tuesday, the Timberwolves came up just short against the Celtics.
With the Celtics leading 46-45 midway through the second quarter, Tatum hit the second of two free throws, then drained 3-pointers on Boston’s next two possessions. That was part of a 16-6 run to close the second quarter, sending the Celtics into the locker room with a 62-51 lead.
Boston committed just four turnovers while the Timberwolves turned it over 16 times on the night.
The Celtics visit Houston on Friday while the Timberwolves face the Pistons in Detroit on Saturday.
——
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
The Boston Celtics came out on top in a thrilling matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning 118-115 on January 2, 2025.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets throughout the night. The Celtics were led by their dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who combined for 60 points. Tatum was unstoppable, scoring 35 points on an efficient 14-of-21 shooting. Brown chipped in with 25 points, including some clutch baskets down the stretch.
The Timberwolves put up a valiant effort, with Karl-Anthony Towns leading the way with 30 points and 15 rebounds. Anthony Edwards also had a strong performance, finishing with 25 points.
The game came down to the wire, with the Celtics holding on for the win thanks to some key defensive stops in the final minutes. The victory improves their record to 25-10 on the season, while the Timberwolves fall to 17-18.
Overall, it was an exciting game that showcased the talent and competitiveness of both teams. The Celtics will look to build on this win as they continue their push towards the playoffs, while the Timberwolves will regroup and aim to bounce back in their next game.
Tags:
Celtics vs Timberwolves, NBA game recap, Celtics win, Timberwolves loss, January 2 2025 game, Celtics 118-115 Timberwolves, basketball highlights, game analysis, NBA scores, player performance, game summary
#Celtics #Timberwolves #Jan #Game #Recap
Discover more from Stay Ahead of the Curve: Latest Insights & Trending Topics
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.