Timberwolves do a lot well, yet still fall to short-handed Celtics

Minnesota didn’t get the champs at their best Thursday at Target Center. The Celtics were sans two of their top four players, with Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Brown unavailable. But even at 70%, the Celtics again proved to be tough to beat.

Even on a night where the Wolves shot 54% from distance, attempted 22 free throws to Boston’s six, and outrebounded Boston by 10, the Celtics held on for a 118-115 victory in Minneapolis as Anthony Edwards’ potential game-tying triple hit off the iron as time expired. It didn’t matter. Boston simply outexecuted the Wolves.



Every shot was seemingly a good one, generated with penetration and pristine ball movement. Jayson Tatum was the best player on the floor. Boston shot 39% from 3-point distance — knocking down 22 triples — and committed just three turnovers, tying the league’s best for fewest in a game this season.

The only other time it happened this season was also the Celtics. On the other end, Minnesota gave the ball away 16 times, which led to 22 points for the Celtics. Execution is king.

It was the difference in Minnesota’s loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday, and again against the Celtics (25-9). The league’s best teams simply don’t beat themselves. It’s one thing that clearly separates the elite from Minnesota (17-16) at the moment.

That, and the performance of the star players. After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 40 points on Minnesota in Oklahoma City, Tatum finished with 33 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as he maintained total control of the contest throughout. He was Batman, and Robin was Derrick White, who had 26 points, including five triples.

Edwards finished with 15 points on 5 of 16 shooting, and the Wolves were outscored by 10 points in his 36 minutes. Julius Randle starred for Minnesota, tallying 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. But Minnesota’s ceiling is certainly capped if its best player continues to play to this sub-optimal standard.

Minnesota continues to be plagued by a single quarter. Against the Thunder, it was the third quarter. Against Boston, it was the second, a frame in which the Celtics outscored Minnesota 34-16.

“We’ve had that patch in our game, and there it is again,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “I thought our defense kind of crumbled. Our ball contain was poor.

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