Last time the Celtics noticed Anthony Edwards he erupted for 38 factors and willed his workforce to a dramatic extra time win. It turned out to be a preview of issues to return for him and his first-place Minnesota Timberwolves, who got here into the week first within the Western Conference.
Two months later the Celtics nonetheless had no reply for the gifted 22-year-old, however in the long run the Timberwolves had no reply for Jayson Tatum both.
Trailing by seven with 2:46 to play, Tatum led the Celtics on a 9-0 run to flip the script and power extra time towards Minnesota for the second time this season. Then in extra time he scored 9 straight factors to successfully end the sport, punctuating his large 45-point night time with a three-pointer to shut out the eventual 127-120 win.
Jaylen Brown additionally completed with 35 factors and 11 rebounds, and collectively the Celtics went 28 for 29 on the free throw line in certainly one of their greatest wins of the season.
Things began nicely for Boston, who jumped out to an early lead and threatened to show the sport right into a blowout at factors. The Celtics led by 10 late within the first and by 9 halfway by the second, however Minnesota was in a position to maintain inside putting distance thanks largely to Naz Reid, who completed with 19 factors and 10 rebounds off the bench and made large performs to assist erase each early deficits earlier than issues received out of hand.
Edwards, the No. 1 general decide within the 2020 NBA Draft, made his mark early as nicely and within the closing minute of the primary half he confirmed off his items with a troublesome fadeaway jumper after which a dunk in transition off a Karl-Anthony Towns steal to show a five-point deficit right into a 54-53 Celtics lead at halftime.
That burst proved essential, as a result of whereas not as dangerous as Monday’s 44-point debacle towards Indiana, Boston’s third quarter troubles continued towards Minnesota.
The Timberwolves outscored the Celtics 32-25 within the body, taking their first lead of the sport on the quarter’s opening possession earlier than ultimately stretching the result in six. Edwards led the cost, scoring an enormous three to place Minnesota forward 5 earlier than later hitting a pair of free throws to make it 85-79 going into the fourth quarter.
Minnesota saved the Celtics at bay from there, staving off back-to-back three-pointers from Sam Hauser and large triples from Tatum and Horford to keep up a two-possession lead. Things regarded particularly bleak when Nickeil Alexander-Walker knocked down a 3 to make it 109-102 with 2:46 to play, however then Tatum took over and willed the workforce again.
Tatum completed regulation with six straight factors, pulling down a driving layup, a 3 and a free throw to chop the deficit to at least one. Derrick White grabbed the rebound on Tatum’s missed free throw to maintain possession, after which the ball discovered its method to Jrue Holiday, who knocked down the go-ahead three to offer Boston again the lead.
Edwards was fouled the opposite finish and made each of his free throws to tie it up, and Tatum’s would-be game-winner didn’t fall on the buzzer, sending the sport to extra time tied 111-111.
Once there it was backwards and forwards some extra, with Towns and Alexander-Walker every hitting threes whereas Brown hit 4 straight free throws. Alexander-Walker’s triple made it 120-118 Minnesota, however from that time on it was all Tatum, who tied the sport with a pair of free throws, completed a superb drive and layup to offer Boston the lead, after which after a Holiday steal iced issues with a backbreaking three.
Tatum wrapped up his epic recreation with a pair of free throws, incomes “MVP” chants from the gang as he closed out the night time.
Edwards completed with 29 factors for Minnesota and Towns had 25. Holiday had 12 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Luke Kornet had eight factors and 5 rebounds off the bench.
Boston gained’t have lengthy to savor this one, nevertheless, because the workforce is about to hit the highway to face the Milwaukee Bucks on the second half of their back-to-back Thursday night time. That recreation will tip off at 7:30 p.m.
Source: www.bostonherald.com