Big Ticket Celebrates Return To Minnesota With Celtics Win Over T-Wolves 95-78

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

Former Minnesota Timberwolves “franchise player” Kevin Garnett did not get to play last season on his old home court. The Celtics power forward was on the injured list when the Celtics made their lone appearance of the campaign at the Target Center. He was healthy on Friday night however and was a major factor in the “Green Team’s” 95-78 victory over his former team. The “Big Ticket” scored a team high 17 points as the Celtics had six players in double figures, including two with double-doubles. T-Wolves fans could take consolation that two of the players that Minnesota received in return for Garnett, Al Jefferson and Sebastian Telfair combined for 36 of the team’s 78 points.

Neither team looked particularly sharp Friday night as both sides had their share of looking out of sync. The first half was close throughout as Boston held a razor thin 22-21 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Celtics in the second pulled the amazing feat of an NBA team scoring just 14 points in a quarter. They were fortunate that Minnesota was not much better in the period scoring just 18, and the T-Wolves led 39-36 at the half. As badly as Boston played in the second quarter, the Timberwolves played worsein the third! As hard as it is to imagine, in a 15 minute quarter, with a 24 second shot clock, the Minnesota Timberwolves scored just 10 points! That’s the kind of scores you would see in recounts of the game before the days of the shot clock. The Celtics woke up from their zombie like play in the second to score 35 in the third, giving them a 71-49 advantage at the end of the period. Minnesota was never a threat at any time in the final period.

K.G. scored 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, in his return to his former home. Tony Allen came up big off the bench as he had 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, Rajon Rondo put in 13 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals. Paul Pierce recorded a double-double 12 points, 11 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals, Ray Allen had 11 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds. Leon Powe came in off of the pine and also registered a double-double, 10 points, 11 rebounds.

Al Jefferson scored a game high 23 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block. Sebastian Telfair was the only other T-Wolves player in double figures, with 13 points, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 rebounds. Boston now has a record of 12-2 Minnesota is now 2-9.

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