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Timberwolves Hang On For 124-122 Win Over Celtics

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Timberwolves built double-digit leads in all four quarters, then hung on late for a 124-122 win over the Boston Celtics at Target Center on Monday.

Rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns led all players with 28 points and 13 rebounds, helping Minnesota snap a brief two-game losing streak.

Boston (33-25) lost for the fourth time in its past 15 games but finished a three-game road trip against Northwest Division foes 1-2.

The Timberwolves (18-39) led by as many as 10 with less than two minutes to play, but they missed four of their final six free throws to keep the Celtics in it. Boston guard Marcus Smart had a 3-point shot from 30 feet miss short off the rim at the final horn.

Minnesota led by as many as 16 points in the first quarter before Boston closed the frame on an 8-0 run. Towns had 15 points and seven rebounds in the opening 12 minutes as the Wolves led 31-23 after one.

The Celtics continued their push to open the second. A layup by Smart gave Boston its first lead at 32-31 and punctuated a 17-0 run.

Another lay-in by forward Jonas Jerebko just over a minute later gave Boston its largest lead of the night at 37-34 before the Wolves went on a 14-2 spurt to take an 11-point lead.

Towns had 20 first-half points, and Minnesota led 59-53 at the break.

Guard Avery Bradley drilled a 3-pointer less than four minutes into the third quarter to get Boston to within 66-64 before Minnesota went on a 15-4 run.

Boston threatened one final time in the third, scoring six quick points to narrow its deficit to four points. however, a 3-pointer at the horn by Wolves forward Gorgui Dieng pushed the Wolves' lead to nine points headed to the fourth.

All five Timberwolves starters finished in double figures. Dieng had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and guard Andrew Wiggins also had 17. Guard Zach LaVine scored 16, and guard Ricky Rubio recorded 15 points and eight assists.

The Celtics were led by forward Jae Crawford's 27 points and nine rebounds. All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas had 18 points and dished out nine assists. Bradley had 22 points, and Smart added 17 off the bench.

NOTES: Celtics G Marcus Smart was active despite a jammed right thumb that he initially hurt Friday against the Utah Jazz. Smart had 10 points and four steals off the bench in a win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. ... Timberwolves F Nemanja Bjelica had an MRI performed on his sore right foot on Monday, revealing a strain. Bjelica is expected to travel with the Wolves on their upcoming three-game road trip but will not play. He is considered week-to-week. ... Boston will return home to open a five-game homestand Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden. ... Minnesota will begin its three-game trip Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre.

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