Everything you need to know about the Celtics’ beating the Wolves 118-109 in BSJ Quickie Form
Box Score
HEADLINES
Hayward plays his best game as a Celtic: After showing off some increased signs of aggression on Friday night following a pep talk from Kyrie Irving at practice this week, Gordon Hayward took things to the next level on Saturday night. He posted his best night as a Celtic in nearly every statistical category including points (30), rebounds (9), assists (8), field goals made (8), 3-point shots made (4) and free throws made (10). The former All-Star saved his best work down the stretch as he scored 11 of Boston’s final 15 points over the final four minutes to hold off a late charge by the Wolves and give the Celtics the tough win on the road on the tail end of a back-to-back. With the performance, Hayward became the first player in nearly 25 years to post 30 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists in a NBA game while coming off the bench. After a such a rough year, the breakthrough earned him a Gatorade bath from his teammates.
How can you not love this team?! ?? pic.twitter.com/h1WuuZjC0U
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 2, 2018
Offense keeps rolling:
The Celtics hit the 118-point mark for the third consecutive game, giving them their three highest point totals of the season in regulation time over the past three games. Hayward led five different Celtics scoring in double figures, while Kyrie Irving flirted with another double-double (21 points, 9 assists). Boston shot 47 percent from the field, knocked down 16 3-point shots and assisted 30 of their 40 made field goals, a terrific ratio that signals just how well the ball has been moving since Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris joined the starting five. Jaylen Brown (tailbone) sat this game out but the inspired effort by the starters all but guarantees that he’ll be coming off the bench when he returns next week.
One of the best wins of the young season:
It doesn’t look that noteworthy on paper given the fact that the Wolves were 11-11 entering Saturday’s contest, but this has been one of the hottest teams in the league since the Jimmy Butler trade, winning seven of their past nine games while playing the best defense in the NBA over that stretch. Despite arriving at 4 a.m. on Saturday morning after a long flight following a back-to-back, fatigue would have been an acceptable excuse for Boston to lose in this one. Instead, the C’s fought hard all night, limited Karl-Anthony Towns (20 points, 9 rebounds) and closed the game out with a 29-20 run to take home a third straight win.
TURNING POINT
The Wolves erased a 10-point Celtics’ lead with a 10-0 run in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter with their second unit doing much of the damage. However, instead of wilting at the end of the back-to-back, the C’s responded with a 10-0 run of their own, allowing them to regain control of the game midway through the frame, a counter punch that was highlighted by 16 points being scored by Hayward in the final quarter.
TWO UP
Free throw shooting:
The Celtics knocked down all 21 of their attempts at the line, including 10 from Hayward and seven from Irving. Both players have historically been elite at getting to the charity stripe, but each has been subpar in this department through the first quarter of the season. Inviting contact in the lane as we saw on Saturday night will be the difference in turning this Boston offense from average to great on a nightly basis.
Marcus Morris from 3-point range:
The veteran forward knocked down 4-of-7 attempts from beyond the arc, lifting his 3-point accuracy for the season to 44 percent despite taking nearly five shots from deep per game. Morris has been a model of consistency from downtown all year (made at least one in 18 games) and it’s been a big key in unlocking strong scoring from the starting five this week.
TWO DOWN
Kyrie’s turnovers:
The All-Star point guard is looking to pass-first more but that has led to some ill-advised decisions in recent weeks with his dishes. He coughed up four turnovers on Saturday night and it could have been a couple more if he didn’t get the benefit of a few lucky bounces. Irving now has 17 turnovers in his past four games, so this is an area he needs to clean up going forward.
Officials:
Nine travel calls in an NBA game? I never thought I’d see the day. A few too many of these were borderline though. Let the guys play.
TOP PLAY
Let's just say, this @jetblue Play of the Game was an easy decision. pic.twitter.com/zkQNuFlc4L
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 2, 2018
TWO TAKES B-ROBB WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
This past week feels like a turning point for the C's:
The Celtics have put together four wins in their past five games and only a couple of them have come against potential playoff teams. Still, there’s no denying that this is the best stretch of basketball that this group has played all year. Saturday night was a team win with contributions coming all across the roster from Hayward all the way down to Daniel Theis (solid first-half minutes with Baynes and Morris in foul trouble). Every capable scorer (Tatum, Morris, Irving, Hayward) is taking their turn leading the offense at times and guys are embracing secondary roles (Rozier, Smart, Baynes), rather than trying to do it themselves. Brad Stevens clearly wanted everyone to look in the mirror after that loss to the Knicks last Wednesday night at home and with some necessary tweaking to the starting five, this group is finally playing to their strengths as a unit.
Andrew Wiggins might end up being one of the worst contracts in the league:
This guy is owed $147 million over the next five years and the only time you noticed him on the floor on Saturday night is when he was taking an ill-advised jumper. He makes a marginal impact on the defensive end, takes way too many midrange jumpers and his motor is virtually non-existent. While Towns is a fun piece for the Wolves to build around, they aren’t going to be a contender anytime soon with Wiggins taking up max money on the payroll while providing nowhere close to All-Star production. Good luck trying to find some team willing to take on that contract though.