Jaylen Brown’s hot start and Jayson Tatum’s consistent play helped the Boston Celtics secure a 107-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.
Brown scored the team’s first 15 points, hitting five consecutive three-pointers, and finished with 29 points. Tatum contributed 26 points and eight rebounds, leading the Celtics to their fifth consecutive win.
The victory improved Boston’s record to 14-3, keeping them atop the Eastern Conference standings.
The Timberwolves, now 8-8, were paced by Anthony Edwards, who tallied 28 points and nine rebounds. Despite Minnesota’s late-game rally, the Celtics held firm in the final seconds to secure the win.
Boston took control of the game with a 14-0 run in the third quarter, fueled by four three-pointers, including two from Tatum. The surge extended the lead to 79-60.
However, the Timberwolves fought back, narrowing the gap to two points in the final 34 seconds after a driving layup by Julius Randle.
Minnesota had one last opportunity with 7.1 seconds remaining. Edwards received the inbounds pass but was cut off by Brown. The ball swung to Naz Reid, whose three-point attempt fell short as the clock expired.
Derrick White added 19 points and nine rebounds for Boston, while Al Horford and Jrue Holiday combined for 17 points.
The Celtics connected on 21 three-pointers, accounting for nearly 60% of their scoring.
Rudy Gobert recorded his eighth double-double of the season for Minnesota, finishing with 10 points and 20 rebounds. Randle added 23 points but shot just 1-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Minnesota’s struggles continued on the road, dropping four of their last five away games. They now return home for a four-game homestand starting Tuesday against the Houston Rockets.
The Celtics assisted on 25 of their 37 made field goals. Despite their win, Boston committed 23 fouls, a factor they’ll need to address as the season progresses.
