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The Celtics proceed their 7 recreation residence stand as they host the Minnesota Timberwolves. After going 4-2 on their street journey, the Celtics at the moment are winless within the first 3 video games of their 7 recreation residence stand. That is the primary of two video games between these two groups this season. They may meet once more in Minnesota on March 15.
The Timberwolves are enjoying within the first recreation of a 4 recreation street journey. The Celtics are 42-21 all time general in opposition to the Timberwolves. They’re 23-8 when the video games are performed in Boston. The Celtics and Timberwolves tied the sequence final season at one recreation every, with every workforce successful on their residence courtroom.
The Celtics at the moment are 2nd within the East, half a recreation behind the Milwaukee Bucks, who they are going to face on Christmas Day. The Celtics are 1 recreation forward of the third place Cavaliers. The Celtics are 11-5 at residence and 4-6 of their final 10 video games, having misplaced 3 in a row for the primary time this season. They’re 8-2 in opposition to Western Convention groups.
The Timberwolves are tenth within the West, 1.5 video games forward of the eleventh place Warriors and a couple of video games behind sixth place Sacramento. They’re 7-8 on the street and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. That they had received 3 straight earlier than shedding to the Mavericks on Wednesday. They’re 7-4 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups.
Marcus Sensible missed Wednesday’s recreation in opposition to the Pacers with a non-covid sickness and he’s possible for this recreation. Robert Williams (sickness) is now questionable and his standing shall be a recreation time determination. Danilo Gallinari stays out with a torn ACL. For the Timberwolves, Kyle Anderson (again) has missed the final two video games and is quesionable for this recreation. His standing is a recreation time determination. If he is ready to play, he’ll probably return to the beginning lineup rather than Austin Rivers.
Rudy Gobert returned to motion on Wednesday after lacking the three earlier video games with an ankle harm. He’s listed as questionable for this recreation. If he can’t play, Naz Reid will probably get the beginning. Jordan McLaughlin (calf), Taurean Prince (shoulder) and Karl Anthony-Cities (calf) are all listed as out for this recreation.
PG: Marcus Sensible
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Al Horford
Celtics Reserves
Robert Williams III
Grant Williams
Malcolm Brogdon
Sam Hauser
Payton Pritchard
Luke Kornet
Blake Griffin
Justin Jackson
Noah Vonleh
2 Means Gamers
JD Davison
Mfiondu Kabengele
Out/Accidents
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) out
Marcus Sensible (sickness) questionable
Head Coach (Interim)
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Timberwolves Starters
PG: D’Angelo Russell
SG: Austin Rivers
SF: Anthony Edwards
PF: Jaden McDaniels
C: Rudy Gobert
Timberwolves Reserves
Bryn Forbes
Nathan Knight
Josh Minott
Wendell Moore, Jr
Jaylen Nowell
Naz Reid
Out/Accidents
Kyle Anderson (again) questionable
Rudy Gobert (ankle) questionable
Jordan McLaughlin (calf) out
Taurean Prince (shoulder) out
Karl Anthony-Cities (calf) out
Two-Means Gamers
Luka Garza
Matt Ryan
Head Coach
Chris Finch
Key Matchups
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Jaylen Brown
Photograph by Cole Burston/Getty Pictures
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Anthony Edwards
Photograph by David Berding/Getty Pictures
Jaylen Brown vs Anthony Edwards
Edwards is averaging 23.0 factors, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 45.5% from the sphere and 36.2% from past the arc. He’s able to having a giant recreation and the Celtics want to concentrate to him, particularly going to the basket. Hopefully Jaylen will be capable of play nicely on this recreation as a result of the Celtics will want him on each ends of the courtroom.
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Marcus Sensible
Photograph by Brian Fluharty/Getty Pictures
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D’Angelo Russell
Photograph by David Berding/Getty Pictures
Marcus Sensible vs D’Angelo Russell
Russell is averaging 16.5 factors, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 46.0% from the sphere and 35.4% from past the arc. The Celtics must maintain him from scoring however additionally they must disrupt the Wolves bringing the ball up the courtroom and maintain them from moving into their offense shortly. Hopefully Marcus is nice to play on this recreation because the Celtics want him.
Honorable Point out
Al Horford vs Rudy Gobert
It’s a tall order for Al Horford (or any Celtic) to defend the 7’1” Rudy Gobert. Gobert is averaging 14.3 factors, 12.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per recreation. He’s capturing 66.1% from the sphere and doesn’t sometimes shoot 3 pointers. He’s an excellent rim protector and so the Celtics want to concentrate on his presence when driving to the basket.
Keys to the Recreation
Protection Protection Protection!! Protection is the important thing to successful each recreation. Up to now, we have now solely seen the Celtics play powerful lock down protection in spurts. The Timberwolves common 114.9 factors per recreation, which is eleventh within the league. The Celtics common 118.0 factors per recreation, which is 2nd. The Celtics have a defensive score of 110.6, which is seventh, whereas the Wolves have a defensive score of 112.3 (twelfth). The Celtics have struggled on offense in current video games and so they haven’t had their protection to lean on when the pictures aren’t stepping into. If their capturing droop has taught them something, it’s that they should get again to creating protection their id.
Rebound – The Celtics are averaging 43.6 rebounds per recreation (twelfth) to 42.5 rebounds per recreation for the Wolves (twenty second). The Celtics might want to crash the boards to maintain the Wolves from getting additional possessions and second alternatives on the offensive finish. Rebounding requires effort and the Celtics are going to should out-work the Wolves on the boards. To win this recreation, the Celtics must put in additional effort to crash the boards and beat the Wolves to the rebounds.
Make an Effort – The Celtics have come into these final 3 video games with a really lackluster effort. Within the two losses to the Magic and the one to the Pacers, the Celtics have allowed younger workforce to play tougher than them and present extra effort on each ends of the courtroom. The Celtics have gotten to get again to out-working groups.
Keep Targeted – The Celtics should keep centered on enjoying the fitting method. They should deal with making good passes and never get sloppy dealing with the ball as a result of the Timberwolves are ninth within the league with 18.5 factors off turnovers per recreation. If the Celtics get sloppy they are going to undoubtedly make them pay. The Celtics additionally should keep centered on transferring the ball and discovering the open man and taking good pictures and making them. The Celtics should deal with enjoying workforce ball as they appeared like that they had by no means performed collectively earlier than in opposition to the Pacers.
X-Components
It’s Referred to as Dwelling Court docket Benefit for a Motive – There’s a motive why they name it residence courtroom benefit. The Celtics ought to be dominating at residence. They’ve the group behind them and if they offer a very good effort, win or lose, the followers will cheer them on and assist to encourage them. It’s when the workforce lacks effort that the group will activate their very own workforce. The Wolves needed to journey, keep in a resort, play in entrance of a hostile crowd and on an unfamiliar courtroom. The Celtics want to return out with effort in entrance of the house crowd and defend their residence courtroom.
Officiating – Officiating at all times has the potential to be an x-factor. Every officiating crew calls the sport otherwise. Some refs name it tight and consistently name fouls whereas others allow them to play with few fouls referred to as. The Celtics want to regulate to how the refs are calling the sport and never enable dangerous calls or no calls to remove their deal with enjoying the sport. The Celtics can’t afford to permit the opposite workforce to go on offense whereas gamers are hanging again and complaining about calls. The Celtics can’t let the officiating get into their heads.
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