Minnesota TimberwolvesOpen full analysis
Boston CelticsOpen full analysis
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Boston Celtics 102–92 on March 22 at TD Garden, outpacing a sluggish home team with superior perimeter shooting and ball movement. Jayson Brown led Boston with 29 points, while Jayson Tatum contributed 16, but the Celtics managed just a 35.8 percent field-goal rate and made only 9 three-pointers on a night when their offensive rating dropped to 91.2. Minnesota's Branden Hyland paced the visitors with 23 points, complemented by Jalen McDaniels's 19 points, as the Timberwolves shot 42.9 percent from the field and drained 12 three-pointers to fuel a 24-assist offense. Boston's third quarter—when they scored 33 points—briefly kept the contest competitive, but Minnesota's dominant second quarter (33 points) and strong fourth-quarter execution (26 points) proved decisive. The final score of 102 fell well short of the Vegas total of 222.5, reflecting a defensive grind that saw Boston's defensive rating balloon to 102.4. The loss drops Boston further behind Minnesota in the playoff race as the Timberwolves' balanced attack and three-point volume continue to deliver wins on the road.
