Celtics beat Timberwolves for 11th straight time in Boston
BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics continued their mastery of the Timberwolves, overcoming a 10-point first-half deficit and cruising to a 117-104 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday night.
The Celtics, beating the Wolves at TD Garden for the 11th straight time, used a 21-6 run bridging the halves and rode a great all-around game by Al Horford and the usual Isaiah Thomas to their 10th win in their last 11 home games.
They are 23-9 at home and have a heavy home schedule as they continue to both try to hold onto the second spot in the Eastern Conference and also chase the Cleveland Cavaliers for the top spot.
Horford just missed his second career triple-double (for the second time this month), with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, going 9 of 12 from the floor and also blocking two shots. He was pulled with 5:03 left.
Thomas scored 27 points and Avery Bradley scored 18 and Kelly Olynyk and Marcus Smart both scored 10 off the bench -- Olynyk with six rebounds.
Ricky Rubio led the Timberwolves, trying to claw their way into the Western playoff picture, with 23 points and seven assists. Andrew Wiggins and Shabazz Muhammad both scored 21 points and Karl-Anthony Towns posted 17 points and 14 rebounds.
The 17 points ended Towns' run of consecutive 20-point games at 21, second in the league this season to Thomas' 43.
Boston hit 13 3-pointers, giving them 26 straight games with at least 10, one shy of tying the record set by the Houston Rockets earlier this season.
The Celtics led by nine in the first quarter but fell behind by 10 in the second. They used a late 7-0 burst to tie the game with 33 seconds left in the first half but Rubio gave his team a two-point halftime lead with a jumper with 17 seconds left -- to lead by two at the break.
Veteran Lance Stephenson, who had just come off the Minnesota bench in the fourth quarter, left with a leg injury and had to be helped to the locker room.
NOTES: Celtics coach Brad Stevens, asked pre-game about Karl-Anthony Towns, said "He been a joke since he's been in the league in my opinion." He meant it in a good way. ... Celtics G Isaiah Thomas extended his own club record my making a 3-pointer in his 44th straight game." ... Guerschon Yabusele, the No. 16 pick in last year's draft, was visiting after his season in China ended; in town to have his ankle examined. "It was a great experience for me to go over there as an import player," he said. "It was actually a great season." ... The Wolves continue their three-game road trip at Miami Friday night, while Celtics visit Brooklyn and Philadelphia Friday and Sunday before starting a six-game homestand.