Brown scores 35 points, Celtics stops to beat Wolves 104-102 – Boston News, Weather, Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and Jayson Tatum added 22 as the Boston Celtics defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-102 Wednesday night.

Malcolm Brogdon added 12 points from the bench for Boston, who overcame a tough shooting night to win for the third time in four games.

The Celtics shot 40.5% from the field and were 12 of 40 (30%) from 3-point territory. They stayed a game ahead of Philadelphia in second place in the Eastern Conference and finished in first place within 2 1/2 games of Milwaukee.

Anthony Edwards had 28 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, which has lost three of four. The Timberwolves started the day seventh in the West, one game ahead of Oklahoma City, Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kyle Anderson scored 15 for Minnesota and Naz Reid added 15 from the bench.

101-99 back, Edwards missed a 3 with 32.2 seconds to go that would have given the Timberwolves their first lead since the first quarter. Grant Williams collected an offensive rebound for Boston and won a jump ball after being tied.

Tatum ended the game with two free throws. Edwards and Anderson were then ejected with 1.7 seconds left after arguing with officials.

It was a defensive battle in the first half between two teams who started the day in the top-10 in the league’s defensive standings. The Celtics shot 32.6% in the first half and the Timberwolves finished with 36.4%.

BODY GAME

The matchup sometimes got bid. Brown was assessed for a technical foul in the first half after an altercation with Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert. Brown, who is wearing a mask following a fractured face, appeared to take offense after being hit with an elbow by Gobert.

Gobert received a Flagrant I foul in the second half after challenging a dunk from Tatum. Gobert slapped Tatum with his hands as he rose and Tatum fell hard onto the court. Officials flagged the foul after a review. Shortly before, Gobert also received a technical foul because he was hanging on the rim after a dunk.

CITIES ARE COMING CLOSER

The Wolves released a Karl-Anthony Towns injury update on Wednesday and said the big man is expected to return from his right calf strain “in the coming weeks”. Towns, out since November 28, has begun basketball activity.

In 21 games before the injury, he averaged 20.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

TIP INS

Celtics: Coach Joe Mazzulla said Robert Williams, who missed his sixth straight game with a left hamstring strain, could be back “in the next week or so”. … Tatum was 0 for 8 on 3s but 14 of 16 from the free throw line. … Boston led as many as 14 in the third.

Timberwolves: Austin Rivers missed his third straight game with back spasms. Jaylen Nowell has missed eight games with tendinopathy in his left knee. … Edwards was 7 of 11 shooting in the first half while the rest of the team was 9 of 33.

NEXT

Celtics: Play in Portland on Friday.

Timberwolves: Playing in Chicago on Friday.

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