Towns has 28 points and 13 rebounds as Timberwolves beat Celtics 124-122
Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points (18 in the paint) and 13 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the Boston Celtics 124-122.
The Timberwolves took control with a 21-6 run in the second quarter and led by as many as 16. The Timberwolves led 114-100 with 3:58 left, and the Celtics got within 123-122 with 6.2 seconds left. Ricky Rubio missed 2 free throws with the Timberwolves up 4 and 10.3 seconds left, Avery Bradley’s 3-pointer made it 123-122 with 6.2 seconds left, and Zach LaVine went 1 for 2 at the line with the Timberwolves up 1 and 5.3 seconds to go. The Celtics had the ball down 2, but Marcus Smart missed a 30-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have put them ahead.
Gorgui Dieng had 17 points and 12 rebounds on 7 for 10 shooting.
For the Celtics, Jae Crowder had a season-high 27 points (16 in the third quarter) and 9 rebounds, and Bradley added 22 points and 3 steals.
The Celtics gave up 15 offensive rebounds, about 4 more than usual for the shots the Timberwolves missed. They outscored the Timberwolves 21-5 on the fast break. The Timberwolves did not make a field goal in the last 3:28. The Timberwolves’ starters outscored the Celtics 65-51 in 24 minutes together.