It has been a roller coaster past week for the [Minnesota Timberwolves](http://canishoopus.com). After losing three straight, including two utter [late-game collapses](/timberwolves-scores-results/62703/sacramento-kings-minnesota-timberwolves-anthony-edwards-demar-derozan-fire-finch) against the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings, the Wolves needed the Thanksgiving break as much as anyone.
The losses brought the Wolves’ record against teams with an above .500 record to 0-7. On Saturday night, the Wolves had a chance to end that winless streak as they took on the Boston Celtics, who, despite being without Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Al Horford from their team a season ago, have started the season with a 10-8 record.
In their first game back after the holiday, the Wolves’ defense struggled to find their form in the first half. Minnesota gave up 69 first-half points, 32 of which were in the paint. Boston shot 29/52 from the field while turning the ball over just three times. Jaylen Brown especially caused the Timberwolves trouble as he scored 27 points over the first two quarters of the game.
The Wolves trailed by as many as 12 points and went into the halftime break down 69-59 as they looked to overcome their first double-digit deficit in a winning effort this season.
The Timberwolves’ defense would do a complete 180 in the second half as they did a much better job limiting the Celtics’ offense, limiting them to just 46 second-half points. Jaden McDaniels, who led the Wolves in individual plus-minus on the night with a +24, was the biggest factor in the Wolves’ second-half defensive success as he took on the responsibility of slowing down Brown.
The added stops on defense allowed the Wolves’ offense to get them back into the game, eventually taking the lead late in the third quarter. The fourth quarter would bring more of the same, as, after a 9-0 solo run by Anthony Edwards, Minnesota went up by 12 points with less than four minutes remaining.
As Wolves fans know, though, the game was not over yet. In what felt like deja vu, Minnesota allowed Boston to go on a 12-0 run to tie the game with a minute and a half left. During the run, the Timberwolves committed two turnovers, gave up a pair of offensive rebounds, and missed four shots, all of which were from beyond the arc.
Unlike the previous two collapses, the Wolves immediately responded to take the lead back after a beautiful pick-and-roll between Edwards and Julius Randle, leading to a wide-open 3-pointer for Mike Conley in the left corner.
While giving up the lead so quickly for the third time in one week brings up huge questions about the makeup of the team, the Wolves’ ability to respond to such a poor stretch and grab the lead right back shows they have it in them to take a breath on play like a mature team late in games.
The Wolves followed up the beautiful offensive possession with a stop on defense and found themselves likely just one basket away from putting the game away. While far from the prettiest offensive possession, Edwards put the dagger into the Celtics with a late shot clock prayer.
The Timberwolves would go on to win by a final score of 119-115. Edwards was again outstanding for the Wolves, finishing with 39 points on 12-24 shooting, including 5-11 from deep and 10-11 from the free throw line. Brown led all scorers in the game with 41.
It’s another back-to-back for the Timberwolves, as they take on the San Antonio Spurs tomorrow night at Target Center. The Spurs will be without Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and former Wolf Jordan McLaughlin.
The game begins at 6:00 PM CT and airs on FanDuel Sports Network. After that, the Wolves head south for a pair of road games against the New Orleans Pelicans.
See More: