Olynyk Scores 19, Celtics Beat Timberwolves 113-99

BOSTON -- The TD Garden crowd came to pay tribute to old friend Kevin Garnett in what might well be his final visit as a player on Monday night.

Instead, with Garnett sitting on the bench and the fans calling for him, the Boston folks had to settle for a Celtics win.

Big men Kelly Olynyk and David Lee, both starting because of injuries to Jared Sullinger and Amir Johnson, combined for 32 points and 13 rebounds and the Celtics ended a three-game losing streak with a wire-to-wire 113-99 win over Garnett's Minnesota Timberwolves.

Garnett, the former Celtic who helped the Celtics win the 17th franchise title in 2008, was on the bench in at least partial game attire, but the plan not to play him in back-to-back games left him there. Garnett, who will be 40 in May, played 10 minutes Sunday at Brooklyn.

The Garden crowd, some wearing Garnett Celtics shirts, chanted "We want K-G" and "K-G" often and loud. Near the end of the game they chanted "Thank you, K-G." During a timeout with 1:02 left, Garnett rose and saluted the crowd, the words, "I love y'all" clear on his lips.

Olynyk, making his first start of the season, scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds. Lee had 13 points and eight boards and Boston shot 12 of 25 from 3-point range in the win.

The Celtics (15-13) ended the third quarter with an 18-4 run, with Lee scoring two baskets and guard Isaiah Thomas dishing out three straight assists on the 10-0 spurt that started the quarter finish. That gave Boston a 20-point lead.

The lead was 21 with 5:55 left before the Wolves made some noise -- but getting only as close as 12.

Forward Jae Crowder had 18 points and 10 rebounds and center Tyler Zeller came off the bench with 14 points (and six fouls) in 16:53 of aggressive action. Thomas only had eight points (13.4 under his average), but dished out 12 assists and grabbed seven rebounds.

Forward Andrew Wiggins led the Timberwolves (11-17 after their two-game winning streak was snapped) with 26 points, while rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 16 rebounds and guard Zach LaVine came off the bench with 17 points.

The Celtics shot 59 percent from the floor and led by eight at the end of a first quarter that ended with Celtics rookie R.J. Hunter hitting a 3-pointer from half-court at the buzzer -- and then walking off like it was no big deal. Towns had 14 of his team's 26 points in his 9:51.

The home team had the lead up to 14 2:37 into the second quarter and led by seven at the half -- after Minnesota closed with the last four points of the second quarter.

NOTES: Minnesota F Kevin Garnett visited with his old Celtics friends in the hallway before the game but didn't play, sitting out the back end of a back-to-back, which has been the plan throughout the start of this season. ... With 4:06 left in the first quarter, the crowd exploded into a "We Want K-G" chant. ... The Celtics were missing Fs Jared Sullinger (back spasms) and Amir Johnson (plantar fasciitis), meaning they were without a combined 17.5 points and 15.2 rebounds per game. Fs Kelly Olynyk and David Lee entered the starting lineup. ... Minnesota coach Sam Mitchell and guard Andre Miller (from the bench) both got early technical fouls -- 26 seconds apart but stemming from the same noncall. ... The Wolves were coming off a win at Brooklyn, which helped the Celtics, who still have multiple draft choices coming from the Nets -- in the deal that sent Garnett and Paul Pierce to Brooklyn. ... The Celtics wrap up pre-Christmas play at Charlotte on Wednesday night, while the Timberwolves host the San Antonio Spurs the same night.