Minnesota Timberwolves (43-28) at Boston Celtics (47-23)Sunday, March 22, 20268:00 PM ETRegular Season Sport #71, Dwelling Sport #35TV: NBC/PeacockRadio: 98.5 The Sports activities Hub, KFAN, Sirius XMTD Backyard
The Celtics look to win their fifth straight sport as they host the Minnesota Timberwolves. That is the 2nd, and ultimate, sport this season. The Wolves received the primary sport 119-115 in Minnesota on November 29. The Celtics received the sequence 2-0 final season. The Celtics are 47-23 general all time in opposition to the Wolves and 26-8 in video games performed in Boston. The Celtics have received 18 straight video games in opposition to the Timberwolves in Boston.
Each groups are a bit of completely different since they met the primary time. The Celtics have added Jayson Tatum and misplaced Josh Minott, Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman. Additionally they added Nikola Vucevic who’s injured and received’t play on this sport. The Wolves traded Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham, and Leonard Miller for Ayo Dosunmo and Julian Phillips. They re-signed Conley after he was traded once more and waived.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 4 video games behind 1st place Detroit. They’re 1.5 video games forward of third place New York, 4 video games forward of 4th place Cleveland, 7.5 video games forward of fifth place Toronto, 8.5 video games forward of sixth place Orlando, and 9 video games forward of seventh place Atlanta. The Celtics are 18-9 in opposition to Western Convention opponents. They’re 24-10 at residence and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’ve received their final 4 video games. (The Warmth, Magic, Hawks, and Cavaliers are enjoying as I write this so this will change.)
The Timberwolves are sixth within the West, 12.5 video games behind 1st place OKC, 9.5 video games behind 2nd place San Antonio, and a couple of.5 video games behind the third place Los Angeles Lakers. They’re tied with 4th place Houston and fifth place Denver. They’re 3.5 video games forward of seventh place Phoenix. They’re 16-7 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents. They’re 19-15 on the street and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re coming off a loss of their final sport.
After this sport at residence in opposition to Minnesota, the Celtics will host Oklahoma Metropolis and Atlanta to finish a 3 sport residence stand. Then it’s again on the street for a 4 sport journey by means of Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami and Milwaukee. They may then play two video games at residence in opposition to Toronto and Charlotte earlier than one sport on the street at New York. They may end the season with 2 video games at residence in opposition to New Orleans and Orlando.
After this sport in Boston, the Timberwolves return residence for video games in opposition to Houston and Detroit. They then go on a 3 sport street journey by means of Dallas, Detroit and Philadelphia. Then, it’s one sport at residence in opposition to Charlotte earlier than heading out on the street once more by means of Indiana, Orlando, and Houston. They may then end the season at New Orleans.
For the Celtics, Nikola Vucevic stays out after surgical procedure to stabilize a fracture in his proper ring finger. Jaylen Brown is listed as possible on account of a left quad contusion. John Tonje is out for G-League project. For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards is out with proper knee irritation. Naz Reid is questionable on account of a sprained ankle and will likely be a sport time determination.
Possible Beginning MatchupsPG: Derrick White vs Donte DiVincenzo
SG: Jaylen Brown vs Ayo Dosunmu
SF: Sam Hauser vs Jake McDaniels
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Julius Randle
C: Neemias Queta vs Rudy Gobert
Celtics ReservesPayton PritchardHugo GonzalezLuka GarzaAmare WilliamsJordan WalshBaylor ScheiermanMax ShulgaCharles Bassey (10-Day)2-Means PlayersRon Harper, JrInjuries/OutNikola Vucevic (finger) outJohn Tonje (G-League) outHead CoachJoe Mazzulla
Timberwolves ReservesKyle AndersonJoan BeringerJaylen ClarkMike ConleyBones HylandJoe InglesJulian PhillipsTerrance Shannon, JrTwo-Means PlayersEnrique FreemanZyon PullinRocco Zikarsky
Accidents/OutAnthony Edwards (knee) outNaz Reid (ankle) questionable
Key MatchupsJayson Tatum vs Julius RandleRandle is averaging 21.2 factors, 6.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 48.4% from the sphere and 31.4% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, Randle completed with 16 factors, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists whereas taking pictures 46.2% from the sphere and 37.5% from past the arc. The Celtics have to protect Randle each within the paint and on the perimeter as he is superb from each.
Sam Hauser vs Jaden McDanielsMcDaniels is averaging 14.6 factors, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 block per sport. He’s taking pictures 51.8% from the sphere and 41.6% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 8 factors, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 37.5% from the sphere and 50% from past the arc. He’s taking pictures very nicely, particularly from the perimeter and so the Celtics might want to defend him nicely.Honorable MentionNeemias Queta vs Rudy GobertGobert is averaging 11.0 factors, 11.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 blocks. He’s taking pictures 69.8% from the sphere and 0% on 3 pointers. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 12 factors, 8 rebounds and three assists whereas taking pictures 83.3% from the sphere with no 3’s. Hopefully the Celtics can pull Gobert away from the basket as he’s an excellent rebounder and rim protector.
Keys to the GameDefense Protection Protection!! Protection is the important thing to successful each sport. The Timberwolves have an offensive score of 116.2 (eleventh) whereas the Celtics have an offensive score of 119.7 (2nd). The Celtics are 4th with a defensive score of 111.7 whereas the Wolves have a defensive score of 112.7 (ninth). When the Celtics are centered and put their minds to it, they’re very robust to attain on (see the 4th quarter of the final sport in opposition to the Grizzlies) however at instances, they lose focus and permit the opposing staff to attain means an excessive amount of (see the first 3 quarters of their sport in opposition to the Grizzlies). The Celtics have gotten to remain centered and play robust staff protection for all 4 quarters in the event that they hope to get a win on this sport.
Rebound – The Celtics are averaging 46.4 rebounds per sport (4th) to 44.4 rebounds per sport for the Timberwolves (eleventh). The Celtics might want to crash the boards to maintain the Wolves from getting further possessions and second likelihood factors. The Celtics are 36-9 once they out-rebound their opponents and simply 9-13 when they’re out-rebounded. A lot of rebounding is effort and the Celtics have set to work tougher on the boards than the Wolves.
Effort and Vitality – Towards a number of groups this season, the Celtics have lacked power (see first 3 quarters of their final sport). They’ve allowed groups they need to have blown out to both beat them or make it an in depth sport. Together with placing out extra effort and power, the Celtics should put that effort into enjoying staff ball. They escaped with a win over the Grizzlies, but when they don’t play tougher on this one they is probably not as fortunate.
Transfer the Ball – The Celtics are robust to beat once they preserve the ball transferring and discover the open man however when one participant over dribbles and lapses into hero ball, they falter. The Celtics are 28-0 once they have extra assists than their opponent however simply 17-21 once they have fewer assists than their opponent. Maintain the ball transferring and don’t lapse into hero ball, whether or not within the first quarter or the 4th quarter. They need to make cautious passes, nonetheless, as a result of the Wolves common 18.4 factors off turnovers per sport.
X-FactorsIt’s Dwelling Courtroom Benefit for a Motive – There’s a motive why they name it residence courtroom benefit. The Celtics have the gang behind them and if they provide a superb effort, the followers will cheer them on and assist to encourage them. The Wolves needed to journey, keep in a lodge, play in entrance of a hostile crowd and on an unfamiliar courtroom. The Celtics want to come back out with effort and shield their residence courtroom.
Officiating – Officiating all the time has the potential to be an x-factor. Every officiating crew calls the sport in a different way. Some refs name it tight and continuously name fouls whereas others allow them to play with few fouls known as. The Celtics want to regulate to how the refs are calling the sport and never enable dangerous calls or no calls to remove their concentrate on enjoying the sport. The Celtics can’t let the officiating get into their heads.
