Boston (5-0) at Minnesota (1-3)

Cloudy Currently: Minneapolis, MN
Temp: 36° F
  • Game info: 8:00 pm EST Wed Nov 4, 2009
  • TV: CSNE, KSTC

By KATE HEDLIN, STATS Writer Nov 4, 2:17 am EST

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While the Boston Celtics are coming off a hot-shooting performance, players will always focus on defense.

With Kevin Garnett(notes) set to play at the Target Center for the second time as a visitor, the Celtics look to extend their unbeaten start when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

Boston (5-0) is one of three remaining unbeaten teams along with Denver and Phoenix. The Celtics, though, have the NBA’s best scoring defense, holding opponents to 79.8 points per game.

Boston is coming off one of its best defensive efforts so far this season in a 105-74 victory at Philadelphia on Tuesday. The 76ers shot 36.3 percent and was 1 of 16 from 3-point range.

That helped make up for an off night by two of Boston’s Big Three. While Paul Pierce(notes) had a led the team with 21 points, Ray Allen(notes) scored five and Garnett went 1 of 7 from the floor to finish with three, his fewest since being held to two by Dallas as a rookie in 1996.

Garnett, the Wolves’ all-time leader in virtually every category over 12 seasons with the franchise, missed his initial return in February 2008 due to an abdominal strain, but scored a team-high 17 in Boston’s 95-78 victory on Nov. 21.

The Celtics, who are shooting 51.4 percent from the field to tie the Suns for the league lead, got a boost against the Sixers from Philadelphia native Rasheed Wallace(notes). He connected on six of the Celtics’ season-high 14 3-pointers and finished with 20 points.

Boston is averaging 101.4 points this in 2009-10, up a fraction from last season’s total. Through five games, the Celtics are holding opponents to 38.5 percent shooting, including 25.6 from 3-point range.

“It starts with defense for us,” Kendrick Perkins(notes) told the league’s official Web site. “We know we’re going to get our points. The points will be there. In the Eastern Conference, it’s about getting stops.”

Boston should have a well-rested starting lineup Wednesday. No starter played more than 31 minutes and Garnett was on the court for only 23 before being pulled with the game out of hand.

Boston has won five straight over Minnesota (1-3), which is coming off a 93-90 loss to the Clippers on Monday for its third straight defeat.

The Timberwolves were outscored 25-14 at the free-throw line while taking 16 fewer attempts. Los Angeles hit four free throws in the final 19.4 seconds to secure the win.

Al Jefferson(notes) scored 24 for the Timberwolves while Corey Brewer(notes) had 14, but missed a well-guarded 3-pointer at the buzzer.

“We haven’t yet gotten to the point where we know what play we’re going to run with a low-clock situation and no timeouts when you’ve got to get the ball up the floor,” first-year Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis said. “That’s my fault that we haven’t had the time to work on plays in that situation, but I like the fact that they got back in the ballgame and gave themselves a chance to win.”

Acquired from the Celtics in 2007 as part of the trade that sent Garnett to Boston, Jefferson has averaged 22.5 points the last two games—up from 10.5 in the first two.

He is coming off a torn ACL that limited him to 50 games last season, but his minutes have increased in each game so far and he logged nearly 35 against the Clippers.

Updated Nov 4, 2:17 am EST
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Team Comparison

Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Boston 12-4 1st Atlantic / 3rd East 100.4 91.7 Road 5-1 Won 3 6-4
Minnesota 1-15 5th Northwest / 15th West 90.4 105.1 Home 1-8 Lost 15 0-10

Notes

F Kevin Garnett spent the entire game on the bench, mostly standing. In the opener, he was there for the first half but stayed in the locker room after intermission. ... Red Sox pitchers Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Justin Masterson attended the game. Masterson was the winning pitcher in a 12-1 victory over Baltimore on Monday, allowing one run in 5 1-3 innings. ... Owner Wyc Grousbeck was at the game after finishing the Boston Marathon earlier Monday in 4:16:49. He sat next to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Apr 20, 11:42 pm EDT

F-C Craig Smith scored 18 points in 18 minutes before fouling out for the Wolves. ... Rookie F-C Kevin Love had a team-high 10 rebounds. ... The Timberwolves shot 7-for-25 from 3-point range.

Apr 16, 12:03 am EDT
NBA

117 Comments

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  1. Arthur
    117. Posted by Arthur Thu Nov 5 10:05pm EST

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    yeh man celts are 6-0. Go celtics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  2. Steven
    116. Posted by Steven Thu Nov 5 6:30pm EST

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    jaws you suck you should cal yourself ja rule.
  3. Amanda
    115. Posted by Amanda Thu Nov 5 3:04pm EST

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    Yyyyeeeeaaaahhh bbbyyy wwee ggoo nn aall ddaa wwaayy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  4. Aqua
    114. Posted by Aqua Thu Nov 5 1:15pm EST

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    KG is very beneficial to my celts!
    going against his former team and all, he really has been proving how much we missed him during the last years playoff season!
    but guess wat, "HE'S BACK!!!!!'
    SIX AND OH BABY!
    WE CUMMIN FOR U KOBE!
  5. Aqua
    113. Posted by Aqua Thu Nov 5 1:15pm EST

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    KG is very beneficial to my celts!
    going against his former team and all, he really has been proving how much we missed him during the last years playoff season!
    but guess wat, "HE'S BACK!!!!!'
    SIX AND OH BABY!
    WE CUMMIN FOR U KOBE!
  6. Hello, My Name Is Johnny Cash...
    112. Posted by Hello, My Name Is Johnny Cash... Thu Nov 5 1:03pm EST

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    Jaws, it's good to know that I can take your one (repeated) post and take from it absolutely nothing that might be considered useful knowledge. We got owned 2 years ago in a Finals that pitted the undermanned Lakers versus the fully healthy Celtics....wow....good for you. Yet, when we faced off in the Garden last year, when both squads were firing on all cylinders (remember that cute little winning streak?, both of them?) what was the end result of those match-ups? I distinctly remember walking out of the season series 2-0 against what you call, your "Celtic." So as for "owning anyone," as it stands, we own the most recent season series, we own the most recent championship, and until that changes, we own you. :)
  7. angloamer
    111. Posted by angloamer Thu Nov 5 11:01am EST

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    The Timberwolves have a good young team, they gave the Celtics a battle the last two games they played them. They will only get better.
  8. <i>wilsons0621</i>
    110. Posted by wilsons0621 Thu Nov 5 10:47am EST

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    vc Rondo is a difference maker and you know it.
  9. Derrick R
    109. Posted by Derrick R Thu Nov 5 10:05am EST

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    The Celtics will lose eventually. And Rasheed will be his old self. It's just a matter of time.
  10. IT
    108. Posted by IT Thu Nov 5 9:14am EST

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    Hey Green Bay fans-- This is how you welcome back someone who put their heart and soul into your franchise for over a decade. Standing-O. Classy fans.
  11. TBD
    107. Posted by TBD Thu Nov 5 9:06am EST

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    VC, you'd lick the sweat off a dead man's a$$ to get Rondo for YOUR team. Live with it.
  12. TBD
    106. Posted by TBD Thu Nov 5 9:04am EST

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    Well, this was a tough one. Trying to erase the Ghost of McHale, the Champion who left Minnesota, and the Unbeaten Celtics all at once. Didn't happen. Why, Pierce even had to play 41 minutes tonight. That's almost as much as KOBE HAS TO PLAY, EVERY NIGHT.

    Heh, heh. Way to go, Celtics.....
  13. <i>vc_1992</i>
    105. Posted by vc_1992 Thu Nov 5 8:57am EST

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    Wow... looks like Celtics struggled tonight. In all honesty, people are making too much hype over the games and records this yearly in the season. there is so much more basketball to be played and so many more chances to be injured. So all i have to say is chill. Teams will do what they will do. And to Celtics fans, please stop treating rondo like he is actually good. without KG pierce and Allen he is nothing but maybe 10 pts and 4 assists a game. Seriously. he isn't worth 11 million a year of your fan money.
  14. VoN
    104. Posted by VoN Thu Nov 5 8:21am EST

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    not gonna happen!
  15. The man your mom loves
    103. Posted by The man your mom loves Thu Nov 5 7:47am EST

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    David M ..Its nice to see you can not spell....smeltics really..ITs celtic to you sr..The best team in nba history..No band wagon with me..I have been A celtic fan since Bird and Parish...And if you dont like the Celtics why you want to come on this Celtic page and talk trash???I think you are on the band wagon your self..Wanting to go for the winnin team..The C's...Dont blame you man..I would not support a rapist ether....
  16. Striker
    102. Posted by Striker Thu Nov 5 7:45am EST

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    Laker's vs Celtics part 2 , Keep winning green slime
  17. Adam M
    101. Posted by Adam M Thu Nov 5 7:30am EST

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    Go celtics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  18. <i>daniel_domingo2006</i>
    100. Posted by daniel_domingo2006 Thu Nov 5 6:41am EST

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    david m is an idiot.. for ur information im 17, so u cant call me a bandwagoner cuz im a celtic fan even b4, the problem with FAKER fans is that they bash other teams juz to praise their fakers team... calling us bandwagoners juz proves it...

    spurs overrated bcuz of ESPN? 2 years ago it was the FAKERS that were overrated.. and the old celtics beat their rapist asses...
  19. David M
    99. Posted by David M Thu Nov 5 5:12am EST

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    daniel…your an idiot lol…how old are you…7????why am i even communicating with a bandwagoner smelltic fan lol…hope grandpa's knees dont break( the old 3 +1) lol…

    silly smeltic fans…
  20. <i>daniel_domingo2006</i>
    98. Posted by daniel_domingo2006 Thu Nov 5 5:01am EST

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    well david m..whatever ugly name u have, great to know u already have an excue for the lakers not winning this season.. the nuggets.. a typical fakers fan, excuses excuses...
  21. David M
    97. Posted by David M Thu Nov 5 4:30am EST

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    like i said daniel domingo w.e. lol…we laker fans understand it's gonna be hard for us to make it in the finals because of strong competition…obviously you didn't read my post or can't read at all!!!!((typical smelltic fan)) and your just bringing up the spurs because you think thats the team to watch cuz ESPN said so lol…actually the nuggets are the team to fear right now dumbass!!! the spurs are just hyped up!!! careful when you guys play the knicks ;) lol cupcake!!!!
  22. <i>daniel_domingo2006</i>
    96. Posted by daniel_domingo2006 Thu Nov 5 4:22am EST

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    i dont care if your a diehard lakers fan cuz ur FAKERS team will die against the spurs this season... you can be a diehard fan wothout bashing other teams.. unless of course if you are so insecure...
  23. YELLO
    95. Posted by YELLO Thu Nov 5 4:11am EST

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    Thanks for the memories KG.....
  24. David M
    94. Posted by David M Thu Nov 5 4:09am EST

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    hey boston fever how long have you been a fan for lol…since 2008??? lol hahaha this is why the sports nation dislike all of you guys…all of you are bandwagoners lol…and the truth is a diehard laker fan since the del harris era ;) i'll admit its gonna be hard for us to make it to the finals since we have so much competition in the west coat…unlike the cupcake teams in the east…excluding the magic...
  25. David M
    93. Posted by David M Thu Nov 5 4:06am EST

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    lafakers…lol you sound like a bostonian smelltic fan lol…i think someone is jealous cuz their team won't even make it to the ECF hahahaha….

    p.s. i never understood why bein called a thug is bad lol…i guess its cuz the intimidation works on you bostonians lol…hahahaha then i guess i am logical thug and your still a smelltic bandwagonin' fan lmao!!!
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