The Boston Celtics’ profitable methods continued on Sunday night as TD Backyard, as as soon as once more, they hosted and summarily dispatched a high quality NBA workforce. This time, the sufferer was the upstart Minnesota Timberwolves, who’ve been equally sizzling via the month of March as they’ve surged up the Western Convention standings. The Wolves have been taking part in wonderful two-way basketball currently, however they only couldn’t maintain up towards the Celtics’ relentless scoring assault.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the best way, as all the time. The duo mixed for a whopping 65 factors on the night, supported by a full of life 36-point displaying from the rotation gamers on Boston’s bench. Karl-Anthony Cities obtained off to a fast begin with 12 first-quarter factors for the Timberwolves, however the Boston protection contained him from there, holding him to only seven factors the remainder of the best way.

The challenges of containing Cities’ prolific scoring skill have been obvious early, particularly with Al Horford sitting out the sport for private causes. The Minnesota massive man hit the bottom working, exploiting a tricky defensive matchup for Grant Williams to the tune of 12 factors within the first quarter. Additional complicating issues was some sketchy ball management by the Celtics offense, who coughed up seven turnovers within the opening body towards the Timberwolves’ ball hawk protection.

The Boston offense discovered methods to get it carried out, nevertheless. A fast begin from Brown (9 first quarter factors) and continued sizzling taking pictures from Payton Pritchard helped fend off the Wolves for a 34-30 lead coming into the second quarter.

The Celtics’ bench mob asserted themselves because the second quarter started. Derrick White scored the primary eight factors of the body, and Pritchard tacked on his third three-pointer of the night to assist stretch Boston’s lead into double digits. Additionally contributing was the not too long ago returned Aaron Nesmith, who checked in early within the second quarter and supplied some high quality minutes, together with an offensive rebound that result in a simple put-back layup.

The recent begin to the quarter amounted to a 17-4 run that put the Celtics firmly answerable for the night’s proceedings. Although fouls began to pile up in Boston’s shorthanded frontcourt, with Robert Williams, Grant Williams and Daniel Theis all choosing up a number of within the first half, the Celtics continued to push their benefit. The Celtics poured in 38 factors within the half, and entered the halftime break with a formidable 72-49 benefit.

The second half started with a mini-run from the Wolves, who related on three consecutive three-pointers to chop the lead again beneath the 20-point threshold. Their momentum was short-lived. The Celtics ended the run on a Robert Williams put-back, and some minutes later had the TD Backyard crowd on their ft once more with an unbelievable off-the-backboard lob from Sensible to Brown for a dunk.

The lead hung across the 20-point mark for a lot of the rest of the quarter, however the relentless shot-making of Tatum and Brown turned an excessive amount of for the Timberwolves to maintain tempo with. The duo poured it in via the third quarter, and the workforce eclipsed 30 factors in 1 / 4 for the third time on the night to take a 106-80 lead into the ultimate body.

Late within the third quarter, Robert Williams limped off the court docket with an obvious damage. As play started within the fourth, phrase got here down that he had suffered a knee sprain and would miss the rest of the sport. Additional particulars weren’t forthcoming, and his long-term standing stays to be seen.

The Timberwolves ultimate surge got here within the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, as they went on a modest 13-6 run to chop the Boston benefit again beneath 20 factors whereas Tatum rested on the bench. Tatum’s return on the halfway of the purpose proved to be the tip of the road for Minnesota. The Celtics pushed the lead again over 20, and by no means appeared again.

Subsequent up, the Celtics will probably be touring up north for a street battle towards the Toronto Raptors, Monday at 7:30 PM on NBC Sports activities Boston.

For extra postgame protection of Boston’s hard-fought loss towards Dallas, tune into the Backyard Report Postgame Present LIVE on CLNS Media proper after the sport. Be a part of A Sherrod Blakely, Bobby Manning, Josue Pavon, Jimmy Toscano and host John Zannis for a full breakdown.