Game Preview #16 – Timberwolves at Celtics

The Timberwolves look to bounce back from a lackluster performance in Toronto as they head to Boston to take on the Celtics. Can the Timberwolves rise to the occasion against the defending champions?

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Boston Celtics
Date: November 24th, 2024
Time: 2:30PM CST
Location: TD Garden
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Timberwolves Face Their Tallest Task Yet: A Date with the Celtics in Boston

If you’re a Timberwolves fan, you’ve probably had enough of the history lessons this week. First, the team failed to exorcise their 20-year losing streak in Toronto, falling flat against a Raptors squad that had no business beating them. Now, the Wolves head into another haunted house: the TD Garden, where they haven’t won since 2005. Back then, Kevin Garnett coming off his MVP prime, Sam Cassell was still doing the big balls dance, and Latrell Sprewell was somehow both feeding his family and draining threes. That’s right, it’s been nearly two decades since Minnesota has left Boston with a W.

But this isn’t just another game. It’s a measuring stick, a gut check, and maybe even a season-defining moment. The Celtics, the reigning NBA champs, are a powerhouse. On paper, the Timberwolves shouldn’t stand a chance. But if there’s one thing this Wolves team has shown, it’s their knack for playing up (or down) to their competition.

A Tale of Two Wolves

The Timberwolves’ season has been defined by maddening inconsistency. This is a team that has taken care of heavyweights like the Denver Nuggets but stumbled against bottom-feeders like the Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors. Their 8-7 record feels like a microcosm of their identity crisis. Are they a Western Conference contender? Or are they just a frustratingly talented team that can’t get out of its own way?

Julius Randle, who’s been one of the few bright spots during this turbulent stretch, didn’t hold back after the loss in Toronto. “We can’t look at, ‘Oh, we’re playing the Raptors.’ They’re 3-12 or whatever, and alright we got an easy one and we can go worry about our individual stuff,” Randle said. “We can’t do that. We gotta be professional and understand that it’s about us as a team, us every night coming out, building the right habits, doing the right things.”

Randle isn’t wrong. The Wolves have flashed moments of brilliance, but those flashes have been sandwiched between lackluster efforts, careless turnovers, and stretches of defense that would make a high school coach cringe. They’ve coasted through games against weaker opponents, only to get embarrassed when those teams decided they actually wanted to win. Tomorrow’s game in Boston will reveal whether Randle’s comments lit a fire under his teammates—or if the Wolves are doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes.

Keys to the Game

1. Defense, Defense, Defense

The Wolves’ defense has been as streaky as their three-point shooting. That won’t fly against a Celtics team that can hurt you from every spot on the floor. Jaden McDaniels will need to channel his inner seatbelt to tie down Jayson Tatum, and Rudy Gobert must dominate the paint to prevent easy buckets. No more missed rotations. No more giving up open looks to role players. This has to be their most focused defensive effort of the season.

2. Anthony Edwards’ Moment

If the Wolves have any chance of pulling off the upset, Anthony Edwards needs to play like the star we know he can be. This is a golden opportunity for Ant to go toe-to-toe with two of the best wings in the league in Tatum and Brown. He’s got the talent to rise to the occasion; the question is whether he can put it all together for a full 48 minutes.

3. Ball Movement and Shot Selection

When Mike Conley is on the floor, the Wolves’ offense has the ability to hum. When he’s not? It’s like watching a bad pickup game at your local YMCA. Whether or not Conley suits up (he’s listed as a game-time decision), the Wolves need to avoid their bad habit of just chucking up threes and instead focus on moving the ball and finding high-percentage looks. Boston’s defense will punish lazy possessions.

The Gauntlet Begins

This game isn’t just about ending a 19-year drought in Boston. It’s about setting the tone for the most critical stretch of the Wolves’ season. After tomorrow, they face Houston, Sacramento, and the Clippers in three straight home games, two that will determine whether they qualify for the NBA Cup. Then it’s a December slate featuring both LA teams, three matchups with the Warriors, and a Christmas Day showdown with the Dallas Mavericks, aka the Wolves’ kryptonite. Oh, and don’t forget the New Year’s Eve clash with the Thunder.

This is the point where the Wolves either rise to the occasion or watch their season spiral. There’s no more room for error, no more excuses about gelling or adjusting to new pieces. If they don’t bring their best effort every night, they’ll find themselves buried in the standings come January.

Hope Springs Eternal

Despite all the frustration, there’s still reason for hope. We’ve seen the Wolves at their best—playing suffocating defense, sharing the ball, and letting their stars shine. They’ve got the talent to be a top team in the West, but talent alone doesn’t win games. Effort, focus, and consistency do.

So, can the Wolves finally win in Boston? Can they prove to themselves—and the rest of the league—that they belong in the conversation with teams like the Celtics? Or will this be just another chapter in the Timberwolves’ long book of missed opportunities?

The gauntlet starts tomorrow. Let’s see if they’re ready to run it.

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