National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Boston 114, Minnesota 98
When: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, December 19, 2014
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Officials: #45 Brian Forte, #30 John Goble, #68 Marat Kogut
Attendance: 17042

Celtics 114, Timberwolves 98: Kelly Olynyk came off the bench to score 21 points and grab eight rebounds as host Boston won its first game since trading away star point guard Rajon Rondo.

Jeff Green scored 18 points and Jared Sullinger chipped in 14 and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who shot 56.5 percent from the field after posting a 55 percent mark in a win over Orlando on Wednesday. Avery Bradley added 14 points, seven assists and three steals while Tyler Zeller also scored 14 for Boston.

Shabazz Muhammad scored 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting to lead the Timberwolves but his fellow starters shot 15-for-46. Chase Budinger had a season-high 19 in a reserve role as Minnesota dropped its fourth straight and 10th in 11 games.

The largest lead of a tight first half was Boston's 53-45 advantage in the final minute, but Muhammad made a late 3-pointer to pull Minnesota within five points at halftime. Zeller's basket with 2:39 to go in the third pushed the Celtics' advantage to 77-69 and it was a six-point margin entering the fourth.

Muhammad had another triple with eight minutes left to cut Boston's lead to 90-88 before Olynyk answered from long range to spark a 13-4 surge that was capped by Green's 3-pointer with 4:56 to go. Marcus Smart buried another 3 for a 15-point bulge with two minutes remaining and the Celtics coasted from there.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Timberwolves traded veteran SF Corey Brewer to Houston earlier Friday in exchange for SG Troy Daniels and draft picks. ... Smart returned from an Achilles injury to tally eight points and four assists in 27 minutes. ... F Brandan Wright, F Jae Crowder and G Jameer Nelson - the trio of players acquired from Dallas in exchange for Rondo - were not in uniform for Boston.
Top Game Performances
 
Minnesota   Boston
Shabazz Muhammad 26 Scoring Kelly Olynyk 21
Thaddeus Young 6 Assists Avery Bradley 7
Jeff Adrien 7 Rebounds Jared Sullinger 10
Shabazz Muhammad 2 Free Throws Made Jeff Green 4
Zach Lavine 3 Steals Avery Bradley 3
Gorgui Dieng 2 Blocks Jared Sullinger 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Minnesota 98 45.2 6-12 8-16 23 37 5 8 13
Boston 114 56.5 8-23 10-14 29 43 6 9 13
Upcoming Games
  • Boston will play their next game on the road against Miami. The Celtics have a W/L % of .600 after a win and .286 after a loss.
  • Minnesota will play their next game at home against Indiana. The Timberwolves have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .263 after a loss.