Celtics center Neemias Queta swatted away a shot by the Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards in the first half.
Celtics center Neemias Queta swatted away a shot by the Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards in the first half.Lily Dozier/Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — The margin for error is so then for the Celtics, especially with Jayson Tatum sitting helpless on the bench in street clothes. And even on nights when Jaylen Brown is dicing up opposing defenses, he can’t take on quality teams alone.
Such was the case Saturday at Target Center, when Brown used an array of moves to pile up points. But when he needed support, the Celtics came up empty.
Despite a late run that tied the game with 98 seconds left, the Celtics couldn’t counter the brilliance and luck of Anthony Edwards in a 119-115 loss.
Brown finished with 41 points and nailed a 3-pointer to even the game at 110 but after failing to corral an defensive rebound, the Celtics yielded a go-ahead corner triple to Mike Conley and Edwards later scooped up a fumbled ball to hit the decisive three with 14 seconds left.
The Celtics managed just 46 second-half points after 69 in the first, while the Timberwolves took control with 51.3 shooting after halftime and 12 3-pointers. Neemias Queta finished with 19 points and a career-high 18 rebounds while Derrick White added 16 points.
After beginning the game 8 for 14 on 3-pointers before cooling, the Timberwolves rallied in the third quarter by making 8 of 13 from beyond the arc. That led to a 35-point quarter as the Celtics watched a 10-point lead turn into a 2-point deficit. Brown, who scored 27 first-half points, managed 7 in the third period facing rugged defense by Jaden McDaniels.
Josh Minott sparked a mini-run near the end of the period with a 3-pointer (then pointing at the Timberwolves bench) followed by a putback layup. Brown followed with a bank shot to slice the Minnesota lead to 94-92. The Celtics made just 9 of 23 shots in the third period, including a pair of key 3-point misses by a wide-open Sam Hauser.
Brown surgically dissected the Timberwolves defense in the first half en route to 27 points, including a bank shot in the face of fellow Atlanta native Edwards as Brown headed back down the floor with a “too small” gesture.
While the Celtics were dominating the boards and second-chance points, the Timberwolves stayed close by making eight of their first 14 3-point attempts, three from Donte DiVincenzo. He drilled his third of the half to slice the Celtics lead to 49-48 and Minnesota completed a 13-2 run with Rob Dillingham hitting a stepback three in the face of Brown.
After an emphatic Joe Mazzulla timeout, the Celtics stormed back with a 15-2 run, highlighted by two buckets from Brown and a 3-pointer from Hauser, who scored 11 first-half points, keeping the Boston lead when Brown was on the bench.
Brown ended the first half with a stepback three near the sideline and strolled back down the floor shaking his head in amazement. He dropped 27 in 19 minutes on 11-for-18 shooting with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Edwards, the perennial MVP candidate, scored 15 points in the first two periods but was minus-16 and also picked up a technical foul complaining on a non-call on a drive to the basket.
The Celtics led, 69-59, at the break after their defense finally began to get stops, holding Minnesota to 1 for its last 10 from the 3-point line.
Brown was listed as questionable with back spasms but was declared healthy enough to play two hours before the game. Queta, who missed Wednesday’s win over Detroit with a sprained left ankle, returned to action and looked nimble, picking up 13 points and 11 rebounds in the first half.
Saturday was a return game for Luka Garza and Minott, each of whom spent the past few seasons with the Timberwolves, mostly as little-used reserves. Minott, a second-round draft pick in 2022, spent three seasons with Minnesota, spending most of his time with G League Iowa. But he returned as a solid contributor and occasional starter for the Celtics.
“Just appreciative, where I started my career,” Minott told the Globe. “The development was great. It wasn’t like I was sitting on my ass for three years. A great environment, great group of people. I don’t think anybody in this city would say I left on a sour note. I loved everybody here and to my knowledge I think they all loved me.
“I haven’t really thought about it until this conversation but it’s almost like me showing them that I wasn’t just [expletive] for three years. Every time I go out there and have a good game, almost tipping my hat to them a little bit.”
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.