It’s Round 2 for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Boston Celtics this Thursday, as the former look to go 2-0 in the 2023-24 NBA regular season against the Atlantic Division squad. Will the Timberwolves victimize Boston anew? Or, will the Celtics get their revenge and keep their record at home squeaky clean?

Catch this game live on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 8:00 AM, Manila time

Away: Minnesota Timberwolves (26-10/12-8 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

• Mike Conley
• Anthony Edwards
• Jaden McDaniels
• Karl-Anthony Towns
• Rudy Gobert

The Timberwolves, coming off a 113-92 humbling of the Orlando Magic Wednesday, arrive in Beantown looking to close out a four-game journey away from the Twin Cities on a positive note. They are also eyeing to double down on their mastery of Boston, which they beat on Nov. 7 at home, 114-109. Boston had no answer for Anthony Edwards in that game, as he went off for 38 points on 15/25 shooting from the field. Making that win even more impressive was that Minnesota outlasted a serious title contender even with Karl-Anthony Towns ghosting the Timberwolves offensively, scoring just seven points on 3/10 shooting. 

A lot has happened since, though, with Minnesota also turning out to be one of the best teams in the league, so expect the Timberwolves to come into Thursday’s game teeming with even more confidence than they had the first time this season versus the Celtics. The Timberwolves bothered Boston then, and that could be the case again in the rematch. Minnesota, which held the Celtics to only 39.1 FG% in the November meeting, is No. 1 in the league in scoring defense with just 107.2 points allowed per game.

Home: Boston Celtics (28-8/17-0 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

• Jrue Holiday (Questionable)
• Derrick White
• Jaylen Brown
• Jayson Tatum
• Kristaps Porzingis (Questionable)

Boston can’t wait to get back on the floor and vent out their frustration from a brutal and controversial 133-131 road loss at the hands of the Indiana Pacers last Tuesday that also snapped the Celtics’ two-game win streak. The loss wasted Jaylen Brown’s monster 40-point performance amid the absence of Jayson Tatum because of an injury. Tatum, however, is no longer on the Celtics’ injury report, so he can be expected to play against the Timberwolves — a huge boost for Boston, which remains one of the best teams in the NBA. 

The Celtics are top five in the entire league in both scoring offense and scoring defense, as they are putting up 121.2 points and allowing 110.7 points per outing. The Celtics will also look to capitalize on Minnesota’s poor ball security (just like the Vikings), as the Timberwolves have one of the worst turnover rates in the NBA. Boston had the Timberwolves coughing the ball up a total of 24 times in the previous matchup.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Timberwolves (+6.5) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (223.5) hits the Under.