Game Preview #33 – Timberwolves vs. Celtics

The Timberwolves start off 2025 with what will likely be one of their biggest challenges of the year against the defending champion Celtics at Target Center.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Boston Celtics
Date: January 2nd, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM CST
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: TNT/TruTV/MAX
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

New Year, New Wolves? Time to Test the Timberwolves’ Resolve Against the Celtics

Happy New Year, Wolves fans. It’s 2025, and if last night’s showdown with the Oklahoma City Thunder was a sneak peek of what the new year has in store, we’re in for a season-long stress test. The Minnesota Timberwolves fought valiantly against the best team in the West, only to see things unravel in a disastrous third quarter. But as the old saying goes, “There’s no rest for the weary.” Now they get to face the defending champions. That’s right, Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the Boston Celtics are rolling into Target Center tomorrow night, ready to turn 2025 into a Celtics’ highlight reel if the Wolves don’t show up.

Let’s set the stage. Last year, these two teams gave us a couple of absolute bangers. Both games went to overtime, with each squad protecting their home court. This season’s first matchup in Boston followed the same script: the Wolves fell behind early, clawed back to make it a game, but ultimately couldn’t finish the job. Sound familiar? That’s been the Wolves’ MO this season—flashes of brilliance, stretches of incompetence, and a maddening inability to sustain momentum for a full 48 minutes.

So, what’s the goal tomorrow night? Besides “don’t let Tatum drop 50 on your head”? The Wolves need to prove they can hang with the NBA elite. They don’t need moral victories anymore; they need actual victories. And beating the Celtics would be the perfect way to ring in the new year.

Key #1: 48 Minutes of Focus

We’ve said it a million times, but the Wolves cannot afford to take quarters off. Last night’s game against the Thunder was the perfect example. The Wolves played three solid quarters and had a 12-point lead early in the third. Then Rudy Gobert botched a fast-break dunk, and things hit the curb faster than a Christmas tree on January 2nd. Turnovers, missed rotations, bad shots—you name it. The Thunder turned that 12-point deficit into a double-digit lead, and the Wolves never recovered.

Against Boston, those lapses won’t just hurt—they’ll bury you. The Celtics are ruthless when they smell blood. One bad stretch, and suddenly you’re down 20 with no hope of clawing back. The Wolves need to bring their A-game from start to finish.

Key #2: Defense, Defense, Defense

Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown are basically walking cheat codes. Tatum’s combination of size, skill, and shooting is unmatched, and Brown’s ability to slash, shoot, and defend makes him the perfect sidekick. Oh, and the Celtics lead the league in three-point attempts. So yeah, good luck.

The Wolves defense will need to be aggressive and disciplined. That means closing out on shooters without getting burned by pump fakes, staying in front of Brown on drives, and forcing Tatum into contested mid-range shots instead of letting him feast from deep. If Kristaps Porziņģis plays (he’s listed as questionable), it adds another layer of difficulty. The Wolves struggled to contain OKC’s shooters last night—allowing Boston to get comfortable would be a death sentence.

Key #3: Ant and Randle vs. Tatum and Brown

Let’s call it what it is: the Wolves’ chances hinge on Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. They don’t need to be perfect, but they need to match the output of Tatum and Brown. Last night, Ant got off to a slow start against OKC, and while he eventually found his rhythm, it was too little, too late. That can’t happen again. Ant has to come out aggressive, looking to attack the rim and draw fouls early. Randle, meanwhile, needs to use his physicality to dominate inside while staying within the flow of the offense.

The Celtics will likely try to double Ant and force others to beat them. That’s where the Wolves’ role players come in. Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Donte DiVincenzo need to knock down open looks and keep the offense moving. If they can step up, the Wolves have a shot.

Key #4: Use the Size Advantage

If Porziņģis doesn’t play, the Wolves will have a significant size advantage with Gobert, Randle, and Naz Reid. They need to capitalize on it. That means dominating the boards, getting second-chance points, and forcing the Celtics into tough shots in the paint.

On the offensive end, the Wolves need to punish Boston down low. Too often, Randle’s bully-ball approach leads to him forcing shots in traffic or committing turnovers. He needs to kick the ball out when the defense collapses and trust his shooters to make plays.

Prediction: A Dogfight to Start 2025

The Celtics haven’t been playing their best basketball lately, dropping four of their last seven games. But even when they’re not firing on all cylinders, they’re still one of the toughest teams in the league. If the Wolves bring the same energy they showed in the first half against OKC—without the third-quarter meltdown—they can absolutely win this game.

That said, consistency hasn’t been this team’s strength. If they have another stretch of sloppy, uninspired basketball, Boston will make them pay. I’ll be optimistic and say the Wolves pull off the upset in a nail-biter.

A win like that would send a clear message to the rest of the league: the Wolves are done being the NBA’s most frustrating enigma. It’s time to start 2025 with a howl. Let’s see if they’re up to the challenge.