NBA: Jayson Tatum, Celtics hold off Timberwolves

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives past Minnesota Timberwolves forward Josh Minott (8) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Jayson Tatum scored 33 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished nine assists, and the Boston Celtics held on for a 118-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in the NBA.

Derrick White added 26 points on 10-for-20 shooting for Boston, which won its second game in a row. Sam Hauser chipped in 15 points and Jrue Holiday scored 11.

TATUM WAS IN HIS BAG TONIGHT 🙌

☘️ 33 PTS
☘️ 9 AST
☘️ 8 REB
☘️ 6 3PM
☘️ 3 STL@celtics move to 25-9 on the season! pic.twitter.com/Ollp4x4JKk

— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2025

READ: NBA: Celtics win by 54, hand Raptors 10th straight loss

Julius Randle had 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead Minnesota. Naz Reid finished with 20 points off the bench and Jaden McDaniels scored 19.

The Celtics won despite playing without key starters Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis. Brown was sidelined because of a right shoulder strain and Porzingis was held out because of a sprained left ankle.

Boston shot 50 percent (46 of 92) from the field and 38.6 percent (22 of 57) from beyond the arc. Minnesota shot 50.7 percent (37 of 73) overall and 55.3 percent (21 of 39) from 3-point range.

Turnovers bit the Timberwolves, who have struggled recently to take care of the ball. Minnesota committed 16 turnovers, and Boston committed only four.

READ: NBA: Jayson Tatum posts 40-point triple-double in Celtics win

The Celtics led by as many as 14 points before the Timberwolves rallied to make it 94-94 with 9:16 remaining. Donte DiVincenzo drained a 3-pointer to even the score.

Tatum, who finished 13 of 27 from the field, helped Boston stave off the comeback attempt. He drilled a jump shot from 14 feet to give Boston a 112-104 edge with 4:20 to play.

White also stepped up in Brown’s absence to provide the Celtics with a secondary scorer behind Tatum. White made a step-back 3-pointer to increase Boston’s lead to 115-107 with 2:59 to go. After Reid hit a 3-pointer for Minnesota on the next possession, White struck again with a 3-pointer to make it 118-110.

The Timberwolves scored the final five points on a layup by Reid and three free throws by DiVincenzo but ran out of time to complete their late rally.

Boston built a 62-51 lead at the half. Tatum and Hauser led the Celtics with 12 points apiece before the break, and Randle had 15 points for Minnesota. –Field Level Media