Jaylen Brown had this shot blocked by Timberwolves center Naz Reid (left) with help from Jaden McDaniels in the fourth quarter on Sunday.
Jaylen Brown had this shot blocked by Timberwolves center Naz Reid (left) with help from Jaden McDaniels in the fourth quarter on Sunday.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
What we’re learning about these Celtics is it’s going to take more than what they have now to beat the elite teams, especially if they are to reach the NBA Finals.
Sunday’s 102-92 loss to the shorthanded Timberwolves dropped Boston to 3-8 against the top six teams in the Western Conference and a combined 0-5 against the Nuggets, Timberwolves, and the Thunder.
The Celtics get one last chance to atone for their shortcomings Wednesday when the Thunder, who should be closer to fully healthy with Jalen Williams returning, come to TD Garden.
The Timberwolves used their athleticism and vigor to blitz the Celtics defensively, forcing nine second-quarter turnovers and then holding Boston to 19 percent shooting in the fourth quarter. The Celtics went 5 minutes, 40 seconds without a point, their worst offensive stretch of the season.
The Celtics couldn’t handle the speed of Bones Hyland and Ayo Dosunmu, who constantly beat their beleaguered opponents down the floor for easy buckets. And the Celtics couldn’t save themselves with the 3-pointer, missing 24 of 33 attempts and going the final 15:16 without a triple.
This could be excused as just a clunker, a porous effort against a team that played desperately and with more passion and was missing its best player in Anthony Edwards. Or, the Celtics could have an issue on their hands, trying to figure out ways to consistently beat elite and quality teams, even with the recent addition of Jayson Tatum.
Tatum went scoreless in the first half, scored 13 in the third, resembling his previous form and then played less than four minutes of the fourth quarter, scoring just 3 points. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla is still experimenting with lineups and scored big on a non-Tatum and Brown group to begin the fourth quarter Friday against Memphis. That didn’t work Sunday and the Timberwolves went on an 11-4 run to begin the final period before Mazzulla opted for Brown.
The Celtics have a lot to accomplish over the next month: getting Tatum completely acclimated, bringing Nikola Vucevic (broken finger) back in a few weeks and ensuring he can make an impact, and holding on to the No. 2 seed, which may be the most difficult. The Celtics’ lead over the Knicks shrunk to one-half game with Sunday’s loss and the next four games are against the Thunder, Hawks, Hornets, and a rematch with the Hawks.
The Thunder have won 11 straight games. The Hawks have won 12 of 13 games and the Hornets have won seven of their past 10. It’s a gauntlet and the Celtics need to be completely prepared and start playing better ball before the playoffs.
They got away with a C-game Friday in Memphis because the Grizzlies were playing a bunch of 10-day players and former G-Leaguers.
Celtics Neemias Queta (left) and Jaylen Brown reach for a loose ball along with Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (center) during the first quarter.
Celtics Neemias Queta (left) and Jaylen Brown reach for a loose ball along with Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (center) during the first quarter.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
“Offensively, we didn’t make shots and that led to our [poor] defense,” Brown said. ‘They got it rolling the fourth quarter and we didn’t respond. We didn’t answer. They just kept piling it on. We just wasn’t good enough. It’s definitely a game you’re going to look back and wish you could have some possessions back because we were in position to win that game but we didn’t play Celtic basketball tonight.”
Brown’s numbers have tailed off a bit since the All-Star Break and it may be a good time to start giving the first-team All-Star a break after this coming four-game stretch. Sunday’s was Brown’s 64th game of the season, meaning he’s just one away from being eligible for all NBA awards, including All-NBA and MVP.
The progress of Tatum returning to a top five player is meticulous and will require more time. He was better Sunday than Friday in Memphis, when he missed his first eight shots, but he’s playing well in spurts and is passive in others. For the Celtics to even break even during this four-game stretch, they’re going to need more from Tatum.
There are 11 games left before the postseason begins and there may be an internal clock ticking inside Tatum because he wants to be at his best when the games really count.
“I have probably had the worst injury you could have,” he said. “And came back in 10 months and I get a better feel each game. I want it to be perfect and first-team All-NBA Jayson. But it’s going to take time. I didn’t rush the rehab process and I can’t rush this. It’s all gonna work out.”
Vucevic is likely two or three weeks away from returning, and the remaining schedule is difficult. What this team could use is another quality win that proves they can compete and flourish against the league’s top teams.
They’ll have plenty of chances before the regular season ends. There’s another meeting against the Knicks in New York, and two more with Charlotte, which thumped the Celtics in their first meeting. Since that impressive March 8 win at Cleveland, the Celtics are 4-3, just getting by in a sense, able to beat the average or solid teams without their best but the three losses are to the Thunder, Spurs, and Timberwolves.
They could use a quality win for their confidence and their resume. Sunday was a chance to handle business against a team that had just lost to Portland at home two nights ago. Instead, the slippage continued and this stretch could cost them the No. 2 seed.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.