Celtics Escape Minnesota With 92-90 Win; Now 6-0!

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

Truth be told the Boston Celtics should have lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center on Wednesday night. The T-Wolves led for most of the contest shooting a torrid 52% (39-75) from the field for the game led by of all people Oleksiy Pecherov who had a career high night with 24 points.

However the Celtics had a strong third quarter took the lead in the fourth and escaped Minnesota with a 92-90 victory to keep their season perfect starting off with a mark of 6-0. Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 18 points while Kevin Garnett recorded a double-double against his former club.

This is now the third time that Garnett since being traded to Boston that the Celtics have played in the Target Center and the crowd was filled with “Big Ticket” jerseys both from his days with the T-Wolves and Boston. And for most of the game it looked like the Timberwolves fans would be treated not only by a visit from their former star but would get their second win of the season to boot. However the final breaks went to the Celtics which allowed them to grab the victory.

The T-Wolves came out shooting in the first and would hold a 27-22 lead at the end of the period. Boston seemed like they need a road map to find the bucket in the second quarter and Minnesota would have a 49-41 advantage as the game reached the half.

Rajon Rondo scored 14 of his 18 points in the third as the Celtics started to climb back into the game and the score was deadlocked at 72-72 as they headed into the final period. Boston would take the lead in the final quarter but the Timberwolves had the ball with 10 seconds left in the game down by just two points. However they were not able to capitalize and the Celtics winning streak remained intact.

Rajon Rondo led his club with 18 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in the Celtics victory. Ray Allen had 14 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds while Kendrick Perkins added 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and 1 assist. Kevin Garnett recorded a double-double scoring 12 points, 11 boards, 3 blocks, 2 assists and 1 steal while Paul Pierce put 10 points in the bucket, 5 assists and 2 rebounds.

Former Wizards power forward Oleksiy Pecherov led all player with a career high 24 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assists and 1 steal. Al Jefferson had a good night against his former team putting up 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal while Corey Brewer added 13 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal. Ryan Gomes put up 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals while rookie Jonny Flynn contributed 10 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds. Boston now with a 6-0 record will play Friday night as they host the Phoenix Suns; Minnesota now 1-4 will host the Milwaukee Bucks Friday.

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