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Jayson Tatum's big night lifts short-handed Celtics past Timberwolves 118-115

AP
Jan 02, 2025

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Jayson Tatum had 33 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-115 on Thursday night.

Derrick White scored 26 points for Boston, while Sam Hauser - filling in for the injured Jaylen Brown - hit five 3-pointers and scored 15 points.

Julius Randle led Minnesota with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Naz Reid added 20 points off the bench, while Jaden McDaniels had 19 points and eight boards.

The Timberwolves trailed by eight with two minutes to play but they had a chance to send it into overtime. However, Anthony Edwards' 3-pointer fell short at the buzzer.

Celtics: After winning 16 of its first 19 games, Boston had a ho-hum 8-6 record in December. A victory in Minnesota was a great way to kick off a four-game road trip to start 2025.

Timberwolves: Minnesota began the week with a chance to test itself against one of the heavy hitters in each conference. After a 113-105 loss at Oklahoma City on Tuesday, the Timberwolves came up just short against the Celtics.

With the Celtics leading 46-45 midway through the second quarter, Tatum hit the second of two free throws, then drained 3-pointers on Boston's next two possessions. That was part of a 16-6 run to close the second quarter, sending the Celtics into the locker room with a 62-51 lead.

Boston committed just four turnovers while the Timberwolves turned it over 16 times on the night.

The Celtics visit Houston on Friday while the Timberwolves face the Pistons in Detroit on Saturday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

1st Quarter
BOS
Celtics
28
MIN
Timberwolves
35

Time		Play	Score
12:00		Al Horford vs. Rudy Gobert (Jaden McDaniels gains possession)
11:47		Anthony Edwards misses three point pullup jump shot
11:44		Jaden McDaniels offensive rebound
11:40		Julius Randle misses three point jump shot
11:35		Sam Hauser defensive rebound
11:28		Jrue Holiday misses three point pullup jump shot
11:26		Julius Randle defensive rebound
11:16		Sam Hauser shooting foul (Jaden McDaniels draws the foul)
11:16	+1	Jaden McDaniels makes regular free throw 1 of 2	0-1
11:16	+1	Jaden McDaniels makes regular free throw 2 of 2	0-2
10:56		Derrick White misses three point pullup jump shot
10:52		Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound
10:40		Anthony Edwards misses three point jump shot
10:38		Jrue Holiday defensive rebound
10:32		Sam Hauser misses three point running jump shot
10:30		Rudy Gobert defensive rebound
10:23	+3	Julius Randle makes three point stepback jump shot	0-5
10:04		Jayson Tatum misses three point pullup jump shot
10:01		Sam Hauser offensive rebound
10:00		Derrick White misses three point jump shot
9:58		Julius Randle defensive rebound
9:48		Julius Randle turnover (out of bounds bad pass)
9:43		Jrue Holiday misses three point jump shot
9:39		Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound
9:36		Jayson Tatum shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul)
9:36	+1	Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2	0-6
9:36	+1	Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2	0-7
9:22	+2	Al Horford makes two point alley-oop layup (Jayson Tatum assists)	2-7
9:11	+3	Julius Randle makes three point jump shot (Mike Conley assists)	2-10
8:57	+3	Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists)	5-10
8:37	+3	Jaden McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Julius Randle assists)	5-13
8:24	+2	Jrue Holiday makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Sam Hauser assists)	7-13
8:03	+3	Mike Conley makes three point jump shot (Jaden McDaniels assists)	7-16
8:02		Celtics 60 second timeout
7:43	+2	Jayson Tatum makes two point driving layup	9-16
7:24	+2	Julius Randle makes two point driving layup	9-18
7:16	+3	Sam Hauser makes three point pullup jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists)	12-18
7:01	+2	Anthony Edwards makes two point driving layup (Mike Conley assists)	12-20
6:50	+3	Jayson Tatum makes three point pullup jump shot (Sam Hauser assists)	15-20
6:34		Mike Conley misses three point pullup jump shot
6:32		Jaden McDaniels offensive rebound
6:23	+3	Jaden McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Julius Randle assists)	15-23
6:09		Jrue Holiday misses three point jump shot
6:06		Anthony Edwards defensive rebound
5:56		Anthony Edwards turnover (lost ball) (Jayson Tatum steals)
5:43	+3	Payton Pritchard makes three point jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists)	18-23
5:17		Anthony Edwards misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
5:14		Luke Kornet defensive rebound
5:05	+3	Jrue Holiday makes three point jump shot (Luke Kornet assists)	21-23
4:55	+3	Naz Reid makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists)	21-26
4:37	+3	Jrue Holiday makes three point jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists)	24-26
4:14		Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
4:12		Jayson Tatum defensive rebound
4:05		Payton Pritchard misses three point stepback jump shot
4:02		Rudy Gobert defensive rebound
3:50	+3	Anthony Edwards makes three point pullup jump shot	24-29
3:21		Jayson Tatum misses three point pullup jump shot
3:18		Anthony Edwards defensive rebound
2:59		Jaden McDaniels misses two point pullup jump shot
2:56		Jayson Tatum defensive rebound
2:36		Jayson Tatum misses three point stepback jump shot
2:34		Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound
2:34		Jaden McDaniels turnover (out of bounds bad pass)
2:34		Timberwolves 60 second timeout
2:27		Josh Minott blocks Jayson Tatum's two point driving layup
2:27		Celtics offensive rebound
2:16		Jayson Tatum misses two point driving reverse layup
2:14		Naz Reid defensive rebound
2:07		Josh Minott turnover (bad pass) (Jayson Tatum steals)
2:01		Jayson Tatum turnover (bad pass)
2:01		Jrue Holiday personal foul (Loose ball) (Naz Reid draws the foul)
1:53		Luke Kornet shooting foul (Naz Reid draws the foul)
1:53	+1	Naz Reid makes regular free throw 1 of 2	24-30
1:53	+1	Naz Reid makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-31
1:33	+2	Luke Kornet makes two point alley-oop layup (Jayson Tatum assists)	26-31
1:33		Julius Randle shooting foul (Luke Kornet draws the foul)
1:33	+1	Luke Kornet makes regular free throw 1 of 1	27-31
1:15	+2	Julius Randle makes two point stepback jump shot	27-33
0:59		Jayson Tatum misses three point pullup jump shot
0:56		Al Horford offensive rebound
0:53		Jordan Walsh misses three point jump shot
0:51		Donte DiVincenzo defensive rebound
0:41		Josh Minott misses three point jump shot
0:39		Luke Kornet defensive rebound
0:33		Nickeil Alexander-Walker personal foul (Payton Pritchard draws the foul)
0:33		Payton Pritchard misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:33		Celtics offensive rebound
0:33	+1	Payton Pritchard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	28-33
0:17		Luke Kornet shooting foul (Josh Minott draws the foul)
0:17	+1	Josh Minott makes regular free throw 1 of 2	28-34
0:17	+1	Josh Minott makes regular free throw 2 of 2	28-35
0:01		Payton Pritchard misses three point stepback jump shot
0:00		Celtics offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Quarter
BOS
Celtics
34
MIN
Timberwolves
16

Time		Play	Score
11:38		Derrick White misses two point pullup jump shot
11:34		Neemias Queta offensive rebound
11:32	+3	Sam Hauser makes three point jump shot	31-35
11:13		Derrick White blocks Donte DiVincenzo's three point jump shot
11:11		Neemias Queta defensive rebound
11:04		Neemias Queta misses two point cutting layup
11:02		Al Horford offensive rebound
11:01	+3	Sam Hauser makes three point jump shot (Al Horford assists)	34-35
10:37		Naz Reid misses two point driving floating bank jump shot
10:35		Al Horford defensive rebound
10:12	+2	Derrick White makes two point driving finger roll layup	36-35
10:03	+3	Donte DiVincenzo makes three point pullup jump shot	36-38
9:48	+2	Al Horford makes two point layup (Jrue Holiday assists)	38-38
9:39	+3	Julius Randle makes three point jump shot (Donte DiVincenzo assists)	38-41
9:20		Al Horford misses three point jump shot
9:16		Julius Randle defensive rebound
9:08		Julius Randle turnover (bad pass) (Jrue Holiday steals)
9:02	+3	Sam Hauser makes three point running jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists)	41-41
9:01		Timberwolves 60 second timeout
8:43		Julius Randle misses two point stepback jump shot
8:40		Derrick White defensive rebound
8:36		Sam Hauser misses three point running jump shot
8:33		Timberwolves defensive rebound
8:09		Jaden McDaniels misses three point jump shot
8:05		Julius Randle offensive rebound
8:05		Al Horford shooting foul (Julius Randle draws the foul)
8:05	+1	Julius Randle makes regular free throw 1 of 2	41-42
8:05	+1	Julius Randle makes regular free throw 2 of 2	41-43
7:44		Derrick White misses two point driving floating jump shot
7:41		Neemias Queta offensive rebound
7:31	+2	Payton Pritchard makes two point stepback jump shot	43-43
7:14		Donte DiVincenzo misses three point jump shot
7:11		Al Horford defensive rebound
6:54		Sam Hauser misses three point pullup jump shot
6:52		Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound
6:39		Jaden McDaniels turnover (lost ball) (Neemias Queta steals)
6:20		Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot
6:17		Julius Randle defensive rebound
6:07		Anthony Edwards turnover (out of bounds lost ball)
5:48	+3	Payton Pritchard makes three point stepback jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists)	46-43
5:26		Rudy Gobert misses two point cutting layup
5:23		Rudy Gobert offensive rebound
5:22	+2	Rudy Gobert makes two point putback dunk	46-45
5:02		Rudy Gobert shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul)
5:02		Jayson Tatum misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:02		Celtics offensive rebound
5:02	+1	Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 2 of 2	47-45
4:40		Donte DiVincenzo offensive foul (Charge) (Derrick White draws the foul)
4:40		Donte DiVincenzo turnover (offensive foul)
4:27		Donte DiVincenzo personal foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul)
4:19	+3	Jayson Tatum makes three point jump shot (Derrick White assists)	50-45
3:57		Anthony Edwards misses two point pullup jump shot
3:55		Jayson Tatum defensive rebound
3:49		Jayson Tatum misses three point pullup jump shot
3:46		Payton Pritchard offensive rebound
3:36	+3	Jayson Tatum makes three point pullup jump shot	53-45
3:22		Jaden McDaniels misses two point driving finger roll layup
3:18		Rudy Gobert offensive rebound
3:17	+2	Rudy Gobert makes two point putback dunk	53-47
3:15		Jaden McDaniels personal foul (Derrick White draws the foul)
2:59	+3	Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists)	56-47
2:46		Al Horford blocks Julius Randle's three point jump shot
2:43		Payton Pritchard defensive rebound
2:33		Jayson Tatum offensive foul (Mike Conley draws the foul)
2:33		Jayson Tatum turnover (offensive foul)
2:33		Celtics 60 second timeout
2:21	+2	Anthony Edwards makes two point driving layup (Julius Randle assists)	56-49
2:12	+2	Derrick White makes two point driving layup	58-49
1:57		Anthony Edwards misses three point stepback jump shot
1:54		Jayson Tatum defensive rebound
1:47		Derrick White misses two point driving floating jump shot
1:45		Mike Conley defensive rebound
1:41		Anthony Edwards misses three point running jump shot
1:38		Mike Conley offensive rebound
1:27		Julius Randle misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
1:25		Jayson Tatum defensive rebound
1:07	+2	Neemias Queta makes two point turnaround hook shot (Al Horford assists)	60-49
0:50		Mike Conley turnover (lost ball) (Jayson Tatum steals)
0:41	+2	Neemias Queta makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jrue Holiday assists)	62-49
0:33	+2	Jaden McDaniels makes two point pullup jump shot	62-51
0:08		Celtics turnover (shot clock violation)
0:01		Jrue Holiday personal foul (Take) (Julius Randle draws the foul)
0:00		Derrick White blocks Anthony Edwards's three point jump shot
0:00		Timberwolves offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

3rd Quarter
BOS
Celtics
29
MIN
Timberwolves
34

Time		Play	Score
11:39	+3	Jrue Holiday makes three point pullup jump shot (Al Horford assists)	65-51
11:22	+3	Julius Randle makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists)	65-54
11:00	+3	Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists)	68-54
10:45		Jaden McDaniels misses three point jump shot
10:44		Timberwolves offensive rebound
10:44		Al Horford personal foul (Loose ball) (Rudy Gobert draws the foul)
10:30		Al Horford blocks Rudy Gobert's two point fadeaway jump shot
10:30		Timberwolves offensive rebound
10:30		Timberwolves turnover (shot clock violation)
10:14		Al Horford misses three point jump shot
10:12		Timberwolves defensive rebound
9:58		Julius Randle misses two point floating jump shot
9:57		Julius Randle offensive rebound
9:54	+2	Julius Randle makes two point putback layup	68-56
9:28		Jrue Holiday misses two point driving finger roll layup
9:27		Julius Randle defensive rebound
9:20		Jaden McDaniels misses three point jump shot
9:17		Sam Hauser defensive rebound
9:09		Jrue Holiday misses three point jump shot
9:06		Rudy Gobert defensive rebound
8:56		Jaden McDaniels misses three point jump shot
8:53		Rudy Gobert offensive rebound
8:53	+2	Rudy Gobert makes two point putback dunk	68-58
8:23		Derrick White misses two point pullup jump shot
8:19		Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound
8:13	+2	Mike Conley makes two point running layup	68-60
8:13		Celtics 60 second timeout
7:54	+2	Jayson Tatum makes two point fadeaway jump shot	70-60
7:32		Mike Conley misses two point driving floating jump shot
7:28		Jayson Tatum defensive rebound
7:16		Jayson Tatum misses three point stepback jump shot
7:13		Anthony Edwards defensive rebound
7:03	+2	Jaden McDaniels makes two point driving layup (Anthony Edwards assists)	70-62
7:03		Derrick White shooting foul (Jaden McDaniels draws the foul)
7:03	+1	Jaden McDaniels makes regular free throw 1 of 1	70-63
6:43		Al Horford misses three point jump shot
6:40		Rudy Gobert defensive rebound
6:32	+2	Julius Randle makes two point jump shot (Mike Conley assists)	70-65
6:03	+3	Sam Hauser makes three point pullup jump shot (Al Horford assists)	73-65
5:50	+3	Jaden McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists)	73-68
5:30	+2	Jayson Tatum makes two point stepback jump shot	75-68
5:06		Naz Reid misses two point driving floating jump shot
5:03		Naz Reid offensive rebound
5:02	+3	Jaden McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Naz Reid assists)	75-71
4:51		Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot
4:47		Jrue Holiday offensive rebound
4:41	+2	Luke Kornet makes two point floating jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists)	77-71
4:23		Naz Reid misses two point driving finger roll layup
4:21		Luke Kornet defensive rebound
4:05	+2	Jayson Tatum makes two point driving dunk	79-71
4:05		Timberwolves 60 second timeout
3:45	+3	Naz Reid makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists)	79-74
3:20	+3	Jayson Tatum makes three point pullup jump shot	82-74
3:06		Donte DiVincenzo turnover (bad pass) (Luke Kornet steals)
2:54	+3	Jayson Tatum makes three point stepback jump shot	85-74
2:37		Anthony Edwards misses two point driving hook shot
2:37		Celtics defensive rebound
2:23	+2	Luke Kornet makes two point alley-oop dunk (Payton Pritchard assists)	87-74
2:08	+2	Naz Reid makes two point driving floating jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists)	87-76
1:43		Payton Pritchard misses three point pullup jump shot
1:40		Julius Randle defensive rebound
1:34	+3	Naz Reid makes three point stepback jump shot (Julius Randle assists)	87-79
1:12		Jayson Tatum misses three point stepback jump shot
1:09		Josh Minott defensive rebound
0:56		Julius Randle turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Walsh steals)
0:52	+2	Jayson Tatum makes two point running finger roll layup	89-79
0:42		Luke Kornet shooting foul (Julius Randle draws the foul)
0:42		Jayson Tatum technical foul
0:42	+1	Naz Reid makes technical free throw 1 of 1	89-80
0:42	+1	Julius Randle makes regular free throw 1 of 2	89-81
0:42	+1	Julius Randle makes regular free throw 2 of 2	89-82
0:35	+2	Jayson Tatum makes two point stepback jump shot	91-82
0:25	+3	Josh Minott makes three point jump shot (Julius Randle assists)	91-85
0:01		Jayson Tatum misses three point stepback jump shot
0:01		Celtics offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

4th Quarter
BOS
Celtics
27
MIN
Timberwolves
30

Time		Play	Score
11:47		Naz Reid turnover (out of bounds bad pass)
11:22		Payton Pritchard misses two point driving finger roll layup
11:20		Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound
11:13	+2	Josh Minott makes two point driving dunk (Donte DiVincenzo assists)	91-87
11:04		Josh Minott personal foul (Derrick White draws the foul)
10:54		Jump ball. Sam Hauser vs. Donte DiVincenzo (Neemias Queta gains possession)
10:50		Payton Pritchard misses three point pullup jump shot
10:45		Donte DiVincenzo defensive rebound
10:35		Naz Reid offensive foul (Charge) (Derrick White draws the foul)
10:35		Naz Reid turnover (offensive foul)
10:20	+2	Derrick White makes two point driving floating jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists)	93-87
10:20		Donte DiVincenzo shooting foul (Derrick White draws the foul)
10:20	+1	Derrick White makes regular free throw 1 of 1	94-87
10:11		Julius Randle turnover (bad pass) (Jrue Holiday steals)
10:04		Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot
10:01		Donte DiVincenzo defensive rebound
9:49	+3	Donte DiVincenzo makes three point jump shot (Naz Reid assists)	94-90
9:31		Josh Minott blocks Derrick White's two point driving layup
9:31		Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound
9:31		Neemias Queta personal foul (Nickeil Alexander-Walker draws the foul)
9:31	+1	Naz Reid makes regular free throw 1 of 1	94-91
9:16	+3	Donte DiVincenzo makes three point jump shot (Julius Randle assists)	94-94
9:15		Celtics 60 second timeout
8:53		Derrick White misses three point pullup jump shot
8:50		Celtics offensive rebound
8:48	+2	Neemias Queta makes two point alley-oop layup (Jrue Holiday assists)	96-94
8:24	+3	Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes three point jump shot (Julius Randle assists)	96-97
8:02		Donte DiVincenzo personal foul (Loose ball) (Derrick White draws the foul)
7:50	+2	Derrick White makes two point fadeaway jump shot	98-97
7:35		Payton Pritchard shooting foul (Nickeil Alexander-Walker draws the foul)
7:35		Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:35		Timberwolves offensive rebound
7:35	+1	Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes regular free throw 2 of 2	98-98
7:25	+3	Jayson Tatum makes three point jump shot (Derrick White assists)	101-98
7:22		Timberwolves 60 second timeout
7:15		Jaden McDaniels turnover (lost ball) (Payton Pritchard steals)
7:07		Derrick White misses three point jump shot
7:04		Naz Reid defensive rebound
6:46	+2	Anthony Edwards makes two point pullup jump shot (Naz Reid assists)	101-100
6:25	+2	Derrick White makes two point pullup jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists)	103-100
6:06		Julius Randle misses two point driving floating bank jump shot
6:04		Jayson Tatum defensive rebound
5:47	+2	Neemias Queta makes two point cutting dunk (Jayson Tatum assists)	105-100
5:47		Timberwolves 60 second timeout
5:35	+3	Julius Randle makes three point jump shot (Donte DiVincenzo assists)	105-103
5:13	+3	Al Horford makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists)	108-103
4:59		Julius Randle misses two point driving floating jump shot
4:57		Derrick White defensive rebound
4:49	+2	Al Horford makes two point layup (Jayson Tatum assists)	110-103
4:36		Jrue Holiday shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul)
4:36		Anthony Edwards misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:36		Timberwolves offensive rebound
4:36	+1	Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2	110-104
4:20	+2	Jayson Tatum makes two point jump shot	112-104
4:08		Neemias Queta kicked ball violation
3:58	+3	Anthony Edwards makes three point stepback jump shot	112-107
3:36		Jayson Tatum misses three point pullup jump shot
3:32		Neemias Queta offensive rebound
3:29		Neemias Queta turnover (lost ball) (Julius Randle steals)
3:21		Naz Reid misses three point jump shot
3:19		Jayson Tatum defensive rebound
2:59	+3	Derrick White makes three point stepback jump shot	115-107
2:52		Derrick White personal foul (Donte DiVincenzo draws the foul)
2:36	+3	Naz Reid makes three point jump shot (Jaden McDaniels assists)	115-110
2:08	+3	Derrick White makes three point bank jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists)	118-110
1:50		Anthony Edwards misses two point driving finger roll layup
1:48		Neemias Queta defensive rebound
1:48		Donte DiVincenzo personal foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul)
1:34		Derrick White misses three point jump shot
1:30		Jrue Holiday offensive rebound
1:25		Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot
1:23		Anthony Edwards defensive rebound
1:08		Anthony Edwards misses three point pullup jump shot
1:06		Naz Reid offensive rebound
1:04		Naz Reid misses two point putback layup
1:04		Naz Reid offensive rebound
1:04	+2	Naz Reid makes two point tip layup	118-112
0:49		Al Horford misses three point jump shot
0:46		Al Horford offensive rebound
0:35		Jayson Tatum misses three point stepback jump shot
0:32		Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound
0:28		Jrue Holiday shooting foul (Donte DiVincenzo draws the foul)
0:28	+1	Donte DiVincenzo makes regular free throw 1 of 3	118-113
0:28	+1	Donte DiVincenzo makes regular free throw 2 of 3	118-114
0:28	+1	Donte DiVincenzo makes regular free throw 3 of 3	118-115
0:21		Celtics 60 second timeout
0:05		Jayson Tatum misses two point stepback jump shot
0:03		Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound
0:03		Timberwolves 60 second timeout
0:03		Timberwolves 60 second timeout
0:01		Anthony Edwards misses three point pullup jump shot
0:01		Timberwolves offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Timberwolves offensive rebound