As the Boston Celtics get prepared to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night, they have two players set up perfectly for potential revenge games: Josh Minott and Luka Garza. Both guys were on the Wolves last season (and beyond that), yet neither managed to earn regular playing time.
This summer, Minnesota was seemingly fine letting them both walk in free agency, and now, they’re playing impactful minutes on the Celtics. Not only that, but the Celtics and Wolves both have the same record right now, meaning Garza and Minott have been perfectly capable of contributing to winning at the level the Wolves are at right now.
And on Saturday, both guys could have their chance at revenge.
Josh Minott and Luka Garza could have revenge games against Wolves
Of the two former Wolves, Minott has had the higher highs for the Celtics this season. For a short string of games earlier in the season, he was even their starting power forward.
But even now that he’s back on the bench, Minott has been a key 3-and-D forward for Boston, with the majority of his top contributions coming on the defensive side of the ball.
He’s taken on key defensive matchups, like guarding Evan Mobley, and his ability to pick up full-court and close possessions with defensive rebounds has been key.
That said, Minott’s three-point shooting has also been a revelation for the Celtics this season, as he’s quietly been one of their more reliable deep-range threats.
So far this season, Minott is averaging 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 51.1% from the field and 41.7% from long range on a career-high 2.7 three-point attempts per contest.
Garza has also been very impactful for the Celtics this year, acting as their primary center off the bench behind Neemias Queta, who has been the full-time starter.
Though there are still some defensive issues Boston has had to work around, Garza’s offensive rebounding and scoring have been very useful.
The big man is averaging 6.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.8 assists while shooting 55.9% from the floor and 41.7% from deep on 1.5 three-point attempts per game.
As both get ready to head back to Minnesota on Saturday, putting up a big game against their old team would be a great way to send a clear message:
The Timberwolves were never able to appreciate the talent that they had right under their noses, and now Boston is reaping the rewards.