Gordon Hayward led the Boston Celtics past the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday night, 118-109, as he scored a season-high 30 points.
Gordon Hayward had his best game of the season, scoring a season-high 30 points to go along with 9 rebounds and 8 assists as he led the Boston Celtics past the host Minnesota Timberwolves, 118-109, Saturday night.
Boston completed the back-to-back sweep after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers at home Friday. The Celtics improve to 13-10 and have now won three games in a row.
Kyrie Irving, who scored a game-high 29 points against Cleveland, made just 6-of-15 field goals but made all 7 of his free throws en route to 21 points and 9 assists. He also had this…creative finish.
Why not 🤷♂️ https://t.co/feJfyXpT6g
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 2, 2018
Irving and Hayward’s playmaking carried Boston all night, as the Celtics finished with 17 made three-pointers and 30 assists for the second game in a row.
Marcus Smart was the only Celtics starter who didn’t score at least 15 points, but he made two three-pointers and had four steals, three assists, no turnovers, and contributed to the best play of the night for Boston, in typical Smart fashion.
Let's just say, this @jetblue Play of the Game was an easy decision. https://t.co/zkQNuFlc4L
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 2, 2018
For the third game in a row, Smart and Marcus Morris (16 points, 4-for-7 3PT) were in the starting lineup, even as Al Horford returned from a rest game. In those three games, Boston has scored 124, 128, and 118 points, respectively, after struggling to score most of the season.
Of course, against the Timberwolves it was the sixth man, Hayward, who swung the game. Hayward checked into the game for the first time midway through the first quarter with the Celtics trailing and he helped turn the deficit into a lead Boston maintained the remainder of the game.
When a 12-point third quarter lead whittled away and Minnesota evened the score at 89 in the fourth, Boston scored nine consecutive points to retake the lead.
The Celtics clamped down defensively down the stretch and the Timberwolves fell into their trap, settling for lazy outside shots, making it easy for Boston. Star center Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 points and 9 rebounds, but he shot just 6-for-15 and took six three-pointers, missing four.
Derrick Rose had 26 points off the bench to lead Minnesota, as well as 4 assists, but he committed three turnovers. Timberwolves starting point guard Jeff Teague missed 7-of-10 shots and had 5 turnovers.
In the first half, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward controlled the Celtics offense, creating so many good looks for themselves and others, whether they were running the show alone or playing together.
Hayward had a season-high 14 first-half points, scoring 7 in a row late in the second quarter to extend the lead. He also pulled down 6 rebounds and dished 3 assists with no turnovers. It was probably his best half of basketball so far this season.
“That’s got to be a mindset of mine, looking to get to the rim a little more,” says Gordon Hayward. “I was awarded for that a little bit tonight with some free throws.”
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 2, 2018
Meanwhile, Irving dropped 12 points and 5 assists himself and Boston led, 57-48, at the half.
In their third start in a row together, Marcus Morris and Marcus Smart combined for five three-pointers in the first half. Morris made two in a row in the second quarter to break a tie and put Boston up six, 42-36.
Boston does not play again until Thursday, hosting the New York Knicks for the first of three consecutive games at the TD Garden. New York is 8-16 on the season, and 4-10 on the road.