The Boston Celtics aim to extend their winning streak to five games on Sunday as they host the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves.
Despite one of their worst offensive performances of the season, the reigning NBA champions managed to defeat the Washington Wizards 108-96 in an NBA Cup matchup on Friday. Boston, now 8-1 on the road, shot 42.4 percent from the floor (36-of-85) and 23.9 percent (11-of-46) from three-point range. Jayson Tatum, the team’s leading scorer at 29.1 points per game, missed all ten of his three-point attempts.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with a game-high 31 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. The team overcame a two-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Wizards 59-45 in the second half.
The 108 points tied Boston’s lowest scoring output of the season, achieved against a Wizards team that ranks last in several defensive categories. Boston, averaging 120.7 points per game (second in the NBA), also scored 108 in a four-point overtime victory over Brooklyn on November 8.
After coach Joe Mazzulla received a technical foul in the third quarter, the Celtics responded by scoring 12 of the next 18 points and took a 75-72 lead into the final quarter.
Minnesota, led by Anthony Edwards’ 26 points and Julius Randle’s 23, fell 110-105 to the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, dropping their road record to 3-5.
Jaden McDaniels added 22 points, while Rudy Gobert contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have lost four of their last six games. Randle called Thursday’s loss the low point of the season for the Timberwolves.
Edwards leads Minnesota with an average of 27.9 points per game. The team averages 113.3 points and allows 111.0 points per game.
The Celtics hold a 5-2 home record heading into Sunday’s game.
