The Celtics host the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 2nd and final game between them this season. This is a match up of the best in the East against the best in the West. The Timberwolves won the first meeting 114-109 in OT in Minnesota on November 7. The Celtics won the series against the Timberwolves 2-0 last season. The Celtics are 44-22 overall all time against the Timberwolves and 24-8 all time in games played in Boston.
The Celtics remain first in the East. They are 3.5 games ahead of 2nd place Milwaukee, 4.5 games ahead of 3rd place Philadelphia, and 7 games ahead of Miami (4), Indiana (5), Cleveland (6) and New York (7). They are 17-0 at home and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They are 6-3 against Western Conference opponents. They are coming off a loss in their last game.
The Timberwolves are 1st in the Western Conference. They are 1.5 games ahead of 2nd place Oklahoma City, 1 game ahead of 3rd place Denver, 3 games ahead of the 4th place Los Angeles Clippers, and 4 games ahead of 5th place Sacramento and 4.5 games ahead of Dallas (6) and New Orleans (7). They are 12-8 on the road and 6-4 in their last 10 games. They are 8-4 against Eastern Conference opponents and are coming off a win over Orlando in their last game.
The Celtics are playing in the first of back to back games. They will play on the road in Milwaukee on Thursday. They then have one game at home against Houston, followed by a game on the road in Toronto. They will then return home for a 2 game home stand against San Antonio and Denver before heading out on the road to Houston, Dallas and Miami. They then return home for a 7 game home stand.
The Timberwolves are playing in the second of back to back games. They played on the road in Orlando on Wednesday. They are 1-1 so far on the second night of back to back games. This is the 4th and final game of a 4 game road trip for the Wolves that took them through Houston, Dallas and Orlando before finishing at Boston. They will return home next to host Portland and the Clippers.
Al Horford (illness) and Jrue Holiday (elbow) are both available after being originally listed as questionable. I imagine that Horford will sit out Thursday’s game against Milwaukee. Kristaps Porzingis has been downgraded to out due to a knee contusion. Sam Hauser and Jayson Tatum, who missed Monday’s game are not on the injury report at this time. I’m going to guess that Al Horford will start in place of Porzingis.
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