Back On Track
Boston,Ma – After a brief slump, the Boston Celtics have gotten back on track with another lengthy winning streak. The Minnesota Timberwolves, meanwhile, have cooled off following their turnaround.
The Celtics (39-9) look for their 11th straight victory Sunday when they host the Timberwolves (16-29), who are trying to avoid a third consecutive loss.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Celtics -14 point spread favorites for Wednesday’s game against the Wild. Current NBA Public Betting Information shows that 67% of more than 223 bets for this game have been placed on the Celtics -14.
The two teams started the season going opposite ways – the Celtics set an NBA record with a 27-2 start while the Timberwolves opened 4-23. In that time, Boston produced a franchise-record 19 straight victories, but stumbled after that, going 2-7 before launching their current win streak.
"We lost a sense of urgency during that stretch," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said.
Under new coach Kevin McHale, the Timberwolves rebounded with a 12-4 mark until their recent consecutive losses – the team’s first losing streak since its 13-game skid from Nov. 29-Dec. 23.
During their streak, the Celtics have won seven by double digits and three by 20-plus points. Their recent games against Minnesota have been a little closer.
With the exception of a 95-78 Boston victory on Nov. 21, four of the last five meetings have been decided by single digits. Three of those games have been settled by one or two points and another – a 124-117 home win for the Celtics on March 4, 2007 – required double overtime.
Boston has won four straight over the Timberwolves and the last three meetings at the TD Banknorth Garden dating back to Jan. 18, 2006.
Sunday’s game will also mark Kevin Garnett’s third meeting against Minnesota, where he played his first 12 seasons and scored 19,041 points.
Garnett has averaged 13.5 points in the previous two games and shot 70.6 percent (12-of-17). He had a team-leading 17 points at Minnesota in the Nov. 21 victory – the fourth in the Celtics’ run of 19 in a row.
Garnett also led Boston with 22 points in Friday’s 86-78 victory at Detroit and scored eight of his team’s final 10 points as the Celtics kept the Pistons from making it close.
"It was kind of nice," Rivers said. "I thought our execution down the stretch was phenomenal, as good as we’ve had all year."
Despite Al Jefferson’s 34 points and Randy Foye’s 27, Minnesota couldn’t stop the Los Angeles Lakers in a 132-119 loss Friday at home, giving up a season high for points and allowing the Lakers to shoot 50.5 percent.
While the Timberwolves have faltered in the short term, McHale is thinking more long term with his team.
"I told our guys that the way they make the playoffs is to have winning months," he said after Minnesota went 10-4 in January. "Not winning days. Not winning weeks. Winning months. … You’ve got to sustain it."
The Timberwolves coach could use more consistency. Before Friday’s loss, Minnesota’s offense was held to less than 91 points in its previous two games.
Jefferson has proved immune from those ups and downs, averaging 28.2 points over the last six games. The Minnesota star is scoring a career-best 22.9 points per game to rank among the NBA’s top 10 scorers.
Though Minnesota has suffered consecutive losses, the Timberwolves have won six of their last eight road games.
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Posted: 2/1/09 1:15AM ET