Celtics’ Perfect Record Shattered in Overtime Loss to Timberwolves. The Boston Celtics’ undefeated streak came to an end in a hard-fought bаttle against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite their best efforts, the Celtics fell short in a 114-109 overtime loss. With this defeat, their season record now stands at 5-1.

The Timberwolves, the only team in the league still undefeated at the time, were determined to make a statement against the Celtics at home. Unfortunately, Boston had to play without Derrick White, who was absent due to personal reasons. The Timberwolves capitalized on the opportunity to prove themselves.

Throughout the game, the Celtics fought to establish a lead, but the Timberwolves put up a strong resistance, resulting in a closely contested matchup. In the fourth quarter, it appeared that the Timberwolves might seal the victory, but the Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum’s standout plays, mounted a comeback to force the game into overtime. Although the Celtics initially took the lead in the extra period, the Timberwolves responded with a decisive 9-0 run that energized the home crowd. Despite a valiant effort from the Celtics, they couldn’t close the gap in the final seconds, and the Timberwolves emerged victorious.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics’ scoring effort with 32 points, complemented by Jaylen Brown’s 26 points. Kristaps Porzingis contributed 20 points and five rebounds. On the opposing side, Anthony Edwards showcased his skills, recording an impressive 38 points and nine rebounds to lead the Timberwolves.

Looking ahead, the Celtics will face the Philadelphia 76ers in their next game, aiming to bounce back from this loss. Despite the defeat, there are valuable lessons to be learned from their intense matchup against the Timberwolves.

Offense Slows Down: Despite entering Monday’s game with the league’s best offense, the Boston Celtics struggled against the suffocating defense of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Celtics had been dominating opponents recently, but the Wolves made it challenging for them. The absence of Derrick White and foul trouble for Kristaps Porzingis played a part in the Celtics’ оffensive struggles. They shot just 39.1% from the field and 28.2% from beyond the arc. However, the Celtics managed to keep the game competitive and gritty against the Wolves.

Clutch Game: The Celtics had previously been successful in close games, with a 2-0 record in clutch situations this season. However, their last three victories had come by double-digit margins. Monday’s game presented a different test, as it remained tight throughout. Unfortunately, the Celtics were not as sharp in crunch time, committing a couple of crucial turnovers in the final minute of regulation. Despite their efforts to force overtime with defensive stops, the Celtics appeared fatigued down the stretch. Additionally, the Wolves made some significant shots in overtime, while the Celtics struggled to maintain their composure.

Foul Trouble: Both teams faced foul trouble during Monday’s game, affecting them differently. Porzingis picked up his fifth foul late in the third quarter but managed to stay in the game until the end. Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out just a minute into overtime, displaying his frustration. Anthony Edwards also had five fouls. The game lacked оffensive flow for both teams due to the frequent stoppages. However, Edwards stood out with an impressive shooting performance, going 15-for-25 from the field in the Wolves’ victory.

Depth on Display: With Derrick White unavailable, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla turned to his bench for additional minutes. The Celtics utilized 10 players in the first quarter alone, with Lamar Stevens being the first substitute. The Celtics had to adjust without one of their starters. Sam Hauser made a valuable contribution in his 25 minutes of play, scoring 11 points and connecting on 3-of-8 three-point attempts.

Overall, the Celtics faced challenges on multiple fronts in their overtime loss to the Timberwolves. The Wolves’ strong defense disrupted the Celtics’ offense, and the game remained closely contested. Foul trouble impacted both teams, and the Celtics showcased their depth by giving minutes to bench players.