On Tuesday night, the Thunder forced the Lakers into overtime in an attempt to make a statement against the defending champions. On Wednesday, the Timberwolves tried to send the same message to the Celtics.
However just as the Lakers did to the Thunder, the Celtics took advantage of their veteran experience and rallied to fend off the eager home team, 92-90, and stay perfect on the season at 6-0.
The Timberwolves, though, did not go down without a fight. They proved they are no longer Kevin Garnett's old team. They have their own identity now, and it is a team with the tenacity to compete with a proven veteran squad. It took the Celtics 47 minutes and 56 seconds to clinch a two-point win in Minneapolis.
RONDO OWNS THE THIRD QUARTER
After quieting Mo Williams, Raymond Felton and Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo struggled in the first half against rookie Jonny Flynn. The 20-year-old showcased his speed and offensive versatility while Rondo failed to find his shot (two points).
At halftime, Rivers told the media following the game, Rondo questioned why his shot wasn't falling. Rivers explained that he wasn't taking his shots and encouraged him be more aggressive looking for them in the second half.
Rivers message clicked and Rondo carried the Celtics through the third quarter. He scored 14 points during a 6-1/2-minute stretch in which the Celtics went from trailing 55-50 to being tied at 68 apiece.
The Celtics often times looked like the only team that knew where Rondo was on the court. All of his field goals during the stretch were layups, many uncontested under the basket as the Timberwolves left him to double up on an outside shooter.
Rondo finished with a season-high 18 points to lead all Celtics in scoring.
DEFENSE REALLY DOES WIN GAMES
The Celtics shot nearly 57 percent from the field and 70 percent from 3-point range in Tuesday's 105-74 win over the 76ers. What a difference a day makes.
Wednesday night was not a pretty shooting performance for the Celtics. In fact, it was ugly at times. They attempted 83 shots — nine more than against the Sixers — and made just 37 (44.6 percent FG). It was even worse from behind the arc, where they were 5-for-19. The previous night they made 14 treys look effortless.
When the Timberwolves held the Celtics well under their scoring average, their best option to win the game was to fight back on defense. After trailing 49-41 at halftime, the Celtics went on an 18-10 run to tie the game at 72 as time expired in the third quarter. During that stretch the Celtics grabbed eight rebounds, forced three turnovers and drew four fouls.
The most crucial defensive possession fittingly came with just seconds left in this back-and-forth matchup. Garnett got his hand on the ball as Corey Brewer drove the basket looking for the game-tying shot. The Timberwolves wanted a foul; the refs called a jump ball. His defensive-mindedness allowed the Celtics to hold on for the two-point win.
BATTLE OF THE (NOT SO) BIG MEN
Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins developed a close friendship years ago as big men on the Celtics. A lot has changed since their time together in Boston, the most obvious being Jefferson's trade to the Timberwolves and Perkins' championship with Garnett. But on Wednesday night another glaring difference was highlighted — the big men aren't so big any more.
Jefferson and Perkins combined lost more than 45 pounds this summer. Jefferson followed the Subway diet to help his recovery from knee surgery; Perkins simply dropped the weight during his offseason workouts. Now both are benefiting from newfound agility that is making them more dangerous on the court.
Perkins, who says he is down to 270 pounds, is lighter on his feet. He has been extending his mid-range jumper early in the season and showed off his footwork down low on Wednesday night as well. Perkins finished with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting. It was his best offensive performance of the season. Defensively, the player once hampered by plantar fasciitis is leaping for rebounds. He nabbed eight against the Timberwolves, and more importantly held Jefferson to just four boards.
This season Jefferson is listed at 265 pounds. He has developed an 18-foot jumper that not only stretches the defense but also leaves opponents unsuspecting of his range. Jefferson scored 13 points (6-of-10 FG) in the first half alone before the Celtics realized how to contain him down the stretch. He finished with 18 points (8-of-17 FG).
Perhaps the biggest testament to the growth of both players was their control on the court. Perkins' first — and only — personal foul came with 5:33 left in the third quarter. Jefferson was whistled for just two in 36-plus minutes.
RSS Center
