The Celtics couldn’t have started the game better. Two big defenses, two counterattacks, two dunks. A few seconds later, Jaylen Brown climbs on Rudy Gobert’s head.
Fortunately for Minnesota, Anthony Edwards is already there to keep his team in the game. He scored 11 points in this first quarter where the entry of Naz Reid did good for the Wolves (29-26).
With his penetrations, Jayson Tatum delights at the start of the second quarter, swallowing up the spaces left by the defense. It is the only spark of this act weighed down by waste and mistakes (52-55). Anthony Edwards resumes his march forward after the break. He is supported by Karl-Anthony Towns, who dominates Jrue Holiday in two consecutive sequences, and as the Celtics skate on offense, Minnesota takes control (79-74).
Rudy Gobert and his gang suffocate the Celtics at the start of the last quarter. A small gap is made, but it does not last because Jayson Tatum gives some fresh air to the 2022 finalists. The Celtics go 10-0, before a 7-0, and are well helped by the Frenchman’s clumsiness on free throws. . Finally, no team makes the difference in the final seconds and we go into overtime (101 all). Five additional minutes which will come down to a show from Anthony Edwards, who scores the baskets, and the Wolves win 114-109.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Boston’s first defeat. Derrick White absent for personal reasons, the Celtics were not disturbed at the start of the match. Confident in the first quarter, they lost their basketball over time. Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford didn’t weigh enough, Jrue Holiday missed too many things in attack and even Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were messy, between good sequences and clumsiness. Boston still had its chance to win, but the Wolves had a player capable of making the difference until the end. Jayson Tatum stalled.
– The “Hack-a-Gobert” almost pays off. Late in the final minutes, Joe Mazzulla’s troops voluntarily sent the Frenchman to the free-throw line. A logical choice since he was clumsy throughout the meeting. The Wolves are three points ahead during his first pass, he only scores one of two free throws. More serious, at 98 everywhere, he missed his two attempts. It will ultimately be of no consequence, but his 2/11 in this exercise could have been costly.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Anthony Edwards. He once again carried his team, from start to finish. His talent allows him to take complicated shots and when he is in rhythm, he seems difficult to stop. The back was well supported by Jaden McDaniels, who was invaluable, but it was he who cut up the Celtics in overtime, with his eight points. As leader, Anthony Edwards finished with 38 points on 15/25 shooting, with 9 rebounds and 7 assists.
⛔️ ✅ Jrue Holiday. If Kristaps Porzingis could have been among the Celtics’ flops, the playmaker symbolizes very well the match delivered by the Celtics. He made the effort with 11 rebounds and 6 assists and he did not completely miss his match. However, offensively, he missed too many things, notably shots near the circle (12 points at 4/16 shooting). In addition, the former Bucks did not find the target at 3-points.
⛔️ Karl-Anthony Towns. Another disappointing performance for the interior with 7 points at 3/10 on the shoot and 7 lost balls. He insisted unsuccessfully on 3-pointers before dominating Jrue Holiday twice in a row, imposing his power towards the circle. But as he missed the point, in the third sequence, he made an offensive mistake. In the last quarter, in the Wolves’ highlight, he sent a pass into touch then dribbled on his foot… He took his fifth foul by rushing at Jrue Holiday, then his sixth in overtime. Never fair, Karl-Anthony Towns was always out of sync in this part.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
