Despite Sloppy Ending, Wolves Hold Off Celtics
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points, 13 rebounds and four assists, and the Minnesota Timberwolves outlasted the Boston Celtics 124-122 on Monday night.
Gorgui Dieng had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Ricky Rubio gave the Wolves 15 points, eight assists, eight rebounds and some terrific defense on Celtics All-Star Isaiah Thomas.
Jae Crowder had 27 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics, who lost on the second night of a back-to-back for the first time in six games. Boston's normally stingy defense gave up 51.8 percent shooting to the Wolves. The Celtics were also outrebounded 51-38, and Marcus Smart missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have won it.
Zach LaVine had 16 points and shot 4 of 5 on 3-pointers, and Andrew Wiggins scored 17 for the Wolves.
The Timberwolves were terrible in a home loss to the Knicks on Saturday night, trailing by 24 early in the fourth quarter as former coach Kurt Rambis cruised to his first win with New York. Minnesota out with much more energy playing against a team on the second night of a tough back-to-back after playing in Denver on Sunday.
Towns jumped on the Celtics early, scoring every way possible to take apart the Boston frontcourt. During one incredible stretch in the first quarter, Towns scored nine straight for the Wolves, including a baby hook on the baseline and a dazzling up-and-under move that left Tyler Zeller grasping at air and injured Wolves star Kevin Garnett jumping out of his seat on the bench and letting out a howl.
The Wolves led by 16 in the first quarter and 11 in the second, but the Celtics closed the first three quarters with bursts to stay within striking distance.
But Rubio was disruptive all night on the defensive end, stifling the Celtics' pick-and-roll and limiting the number of clean looks for Thomas, who started the game 0 for 7 and finished with 18 points on 8-for-20 shooting.
That kind of dogged effort is usually the Celtics' specialty. They came in third in the NBA in defensive efficiency, but couldn't quite finish off the comeback after trailing by 10 with 90 seconds to play.
Boston pulled within one with 5.3 seconds to play thanks to four missed free throws by Minnesota, but Smart's look from the right wing was off the back iron, allowing the Wolves to escape.
TIP-INS
Celtics: Smart had 17 points and seven assists. ... Jared Sullinger had 12 points and seven rebounds.
Timberwolves: F Nemanja Bjelica had an MRI on the right foot injury that occurred over the All-Star break. It revealed a strain and he will miss at least the next three games on the upcoming road trip. ... Rookie PG Tyus Jones had his best game as a pro with nine points on 4-for-7 shooting in 16 minutes.
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