Celtics top T’wolves, clinch playoff spot
The presence of Kyrie Irving this season has made the Celtics more of a dynamic team with the ball. They’ve become quite the force on the other end of the court, too, as Minnesota learned again.
Irving returned from a onegame absence to help visiting Boston fend off the Timberwolves, finishing with 23 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in a 117-109 victory Thursday night that clinched a spot in the playoffs for the Celtics.
“That’s one of the goals,” Irving said. “Just glad we got it out of the way pretty early.”
Al Horford added 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists and tough defense on Karl-Anthony Towns for the Celtics, who moved two games behind Toronto in the Eastern Conference race with their sixth win in seven games.
Marcus Morris added 17 points for the Celtics, whose good vibes were tempered a bit by the hard landing Jaylen Brown took on his back after a dunk late in the third quarter.
The Celtics overcame a career-high 30 points by Nemanja Bjelica on 11-for-16 shooting, including 6-for-9 from threepoint range. Bjelica’s first 20-10 game in the NBA was ultimately wasted in the seasonhigh third straight loss for the Timberwolves.
“We have to understand how hard and physical you have to play,” Minnesota head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “I think that’s the difference right now between us being a really good team and being a good team.”
Thunder 115, Suns 87: Russell Westbrook had 27 points, eight rebounds host Oklahoma and nine City. assists Paul George to help added 21 points, Corey Brewer had 17, Steven Adams 16, and Carmelo Anthony 11. Devin Booker had 30 points for Phoenix. He had 39 last week in Arizona in a loss to the Thunder.
Heat 108, 76ers 99: Hassan Whiteside scored 26 points, Dwyane Wade added 16 and host Miami beat Philadelphia to move a step closer to the playoffs. Josh Richardson scored 13 points, Tyler Johnson had 12 and Kelly Olynyk added 10 to help the Heat stay No. 7 in the Eastern Conference and move a game back of No. 6 Philadelphia. Dario Saric had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the 76ers.
Nets 125, Hornets 111: Cal alum Allen Crabbe made his first six threepoint attempts and finished with 29 points and eight rebounds, helping visiting Brooklyn beat Charlotte to snap a four-game losing streak. Caris Levert scored 22 points, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 18 points and 12 rebounds to provide a spark off the bench for the Nets. Kemba Walker had 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting for the Hornets. They’ve lost five straight.
Rose Rose signed to Timberwolves: with Minnesota Derrick for the remainder of the season, reuniting the point guard with Thibodeau. They were together in Chicago. Rose spent his first eight NBA years in Chicago, five with Thibodeau as his head coach.