Isaiah Thomas, Celtics Rally From 13 Down In 4th To Roll Past Timberwolves 99-93

Isaiah Thomas scored 29 points, and the Boston Celtics rallied from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 99-93 in Minneapolis on Monday night.

isaiah Thomas, Celtics Rally From 13 Down In 4th To Roll Past Timberwolves 99-93

Al Horford added 20 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Celtics, who trailed 81-68 after three. Boston opened the fourth with a 17-0 run to gain the lead and held on to reach its second consecutive win.

”I think give us credit for playing a little harder than them and making them think a little more and getting them uncomfortable,” Thomas said.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 18 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Gorgui Dieng added 20 points and 10 rebounds, but Andrew Wiggins was only 5 for 18 and Minnesota scored three points in the first nine minutes of the fourth.

”We laid a damn egg,” said Zach LaVine, who was 4 of 12 from the field and 0 for 7 on 3-pointers.

Boston’s Terry Rozier scored a career-high 12 points and played a key role in the Celtics’ explosion in the first 6 minutes of the fourth.

Though they have typically struggled in the third quarter, the Timberwolves outscored the Celtics 29-26 in that period, only the second time this season that has happened against any of their opponents.

Jonas Jerebko and Rozier opened the fourth with 3-pointers, and Rozier added another long ball and a steal and dunk to push Boston ahead.

Towns was the only player to score for Minnesota in the first 11 minutes of the fourth, converting a three-point play with 5:18 remaining for their first bucket and sinking a 3-pointer with 2:38 left.

The Celtics outscored the Timberwolves 31-12 in the fourth as Minnesota shot 5 for 25.

”They were definitely pressing,” Celtics guard Marcus Smart said. ”Guys were into guys, we were making everything hard. You could definitely tell they were pressing to find a great shot.”

The Wolves also out-rebounded the Celtics 51-39, including 16-6 on the offensive glass. But Minnesota missed eight free throws in total.

”I think we have to play tougher with a lead,” Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. ”And the big thing for us is to improve and learn.”

The Celtics (8-6) will wrap up their three-game road trip in Brooklyn on Wednesday night. The Timberwolves, (4-9) meanwhile, will begin a three-game trip with a matchup at New Orleans on Wednesday night. This game will see Towns and his former Kentucky teammate Anthony Davis face off against each other.

ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 26: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics lays in a basket against the Atlanta Hawks in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on April 26, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.