The Boston Celtics welcome in 2025 facing the toughest stretch of the season in January with 3 back-to-back games and 10 out of 16 games on the road. Coupled with the condensed schedule, Boston is fighting injuries, with Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis both ruled unavailable tonight.
First up for 2025, the C’s face the 17-15 Minnesota Timberwolves in the first of four road games against western conference opponents. Minnesota opened the scoring with Jaden McDaniels hitting on a pair of free throws, then Julius Randle hit his step back three-pointer. Anthony Edwards got down hill and drove on Tatum, who fouled the dynamic guard, who also hit on both free throws.
Boston finally got on the scoreboard at the nine-and-a-half-minute mark behind an Al Horford layup. Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle all connected from distance for the TWolves, before coach Joe Mazulla called a timeout, with his Boston down 16-7 after just 4 minutes of play.
Coming out of the timeout, Sam Hauser hit a corner three, then Jayson Tatum hit a wide open three-pointer from the top of the key as Boston looked to get back into the game. Payton Pritchard then came off the bench gunning, swishing in his first shot attempt from distance. Luke Kornet provided a solid effort in his first quarter minutes with 3 points, 2 boards and 1 assist.
Both teams got up plenty of three point shots in this first quarter as they combined for 30 shot attempts and 13 successful attempts. Minnesota had contributions from plenty of players with 6 scorers to lead 35-28 after one quarter of play.
Boston roared back to register there first lead of the game with Tatum on the bench as Sam Hauser came to play in the second quarter. Hauser, who replaced All Star Jaylen Brown in the starting five registered his twelfth point of the night, on his fourth three-pointer as scores tied up at 41-41.
Boston ramped up the defensive pressure in the second quarter, troubling the Minnesota ball handlers. The Timberwolves had 7 turnovers midway through the second quarter, as the Queta / Horford frontcourt pairing provided some extra effort that has been lacking recently.
Tatum returned to the lineup midway in the quarter and immediately got back into the scoring flow hitting a pull-up three-pointer in rhythm. Jrue Holiday logged his 4th assist of the game swinging the ball to Derrick White in the corner, in front of the C’s bench with his second triple as Boston opened up a lead with two minutes to go, 56-47. Neemis Queta took on Gobert inside the painted area on three consecutive plays, as Boston finished the half the stronger team, 64-51.
Boston continued to launch three-point attempts into the second half, with Jrue Holiday and Derrick White hitting there first attempts of the half. Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley finally started to wake up for Minnesota as both starters scored to start the third quarter after both had sluggish first half performances.
Minnesota crept back into the game midway through the third, as the Wolves got the score back to just six points, before Jayson Tatum drove down the key for an uncontested dunk and his 18th point of the contest to lead the Celtics in scoring. Tatum then added his fifth and sixth three-pointer on the night, as he logged his twelfth point and counting in the quarter.
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Payton Pritchard then drove and deftly passed over the top of the Minny defenders to an outstretched Luke Kornet who caught the lob to dunk, as Boston opened up a nine-point buffer.
Jordan Walsh stood his ground against Julius Randle and poked away a post dribble as Tatum, catching the bobbling ball, and drove all the way to convert a finger roll layup. Jayson Tatum converted his 16 point of the quarter on a mid-range pullup, as Boston did enough to lead by six after three quarters, up 91-85.
Josh Minott busted open the Celtics key with a driving two-handed dunk as the scrambling Boston players got caught flat-footed. Derrick White drove on Donte DiVencenzo who fouled the Celtics guard for a three-point play with Jayson Tatum on the bench. Minott then blocked a Derrick White layup attempt as the Minnesota home crowd really started to get rowdy and loud.
DiVencenzo hit back-to-back threes, and just like that, the Minnesota Timberwolves had tied the game at 94, with nine minutes left in regulation. Minny’s bench was outstanding to start the fourth, with 15 straight points for the home team as the starters rested on the bench.
Tatum would return to action for Boston and hit on his 31st point as the road team went up 101-98 in the game. The Timberwolves then started to double team the Celtics superstar, who in turn looked to distribute the ball and he found a wide open Queta for a strong two-handed dunk and his eighth point of the night, Boston up five, 105-100.
Derrick White’s third three-pointer after creating space on the dribble was enough to fuel a Boston a 8-point lead. His bank shot triple was the icing on the cake after a stellar night scoring 26 points with Jaylen Brown sidelined. DiVencenzo was fouled by Jrue Holiday and converted on 3 free throws to get the score back to within 3 points with just three seconds on the clock.
Anthony Edwards rimmed wide on the final shot as Boston held on to win 118-115. Boston take on the Houston Rockets and Ime Udoka tomorrow night.
