The Minnesota Timberwolves came away with a 102-92 win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at TD Garden, using a strong middle stretch and a decisive fourth quarter to turn an early deficit into an important road result. Boston led by nine after the first quarter and briefly regained momentum in the third, but Minnesota stayed steady, moved the ball well, and pulled away late in front of a crowd of 19,156.
Quarter-by-quarter breakdown
First quarter: Celtics 23, Timberwolves 14
Boston set the tone early with its defense and built a 23-14 lead after one. The Celtics limited Minnesota’s rhythm in the opening 12 minutes and did enough offensively to create early separation, while the Timberwolves struggled to find consistent scoring.
Second quarter: Timberwolves 33, Celtics 21
Minnesota responded with its best offensive quarter of the night. The Timberwolves outscored Boston 33-21 in the second, erasing the early deficit and taking a 47-44 lead into halftime. That swing changed the game, as Minnesota found cleaner perimeter looks and improved its pace after a slow opening period.
Third quarter: Celtics 33, Timberwolves 29
Boston answered after halftime with a 33-point third quarter. Jaylen Brown helped lead that push as the Celtics reclaimed a 77-76 edge heading to the fourth. It looked like Boston had positioned itself to control the finish, especially after generating more offense than it had in the second quarter.
Fourth quarter: Timberwolves 26, Celtics 15
The final period belonged to Minnesota. The Timberwolves held Boston to just 15 points in the quarter and outscored the Celtics 26-15 over the final 12 minutes. That defensive finish, combined with timely shot-making, allowed Minnesota to take control late and close out the 10-point victory.
Key performers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Bones Hyland led Minnesota with 23 points, providing the top scoring output for the visitors. Ayo Dosunmu delivered a well-rounded performance with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, helping stabilize Minnesota’s offense across multiple stretches. Rudy Gobert anchored the glass with 14 rebounds as the Timberwolves finished with a 56-53 edge in total boards.
Boston Celtics
Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 29 points and added 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Jayson Tatum paced Boston on the boards with 11 rebounds, but the Celtics had trouble converting efficiently throughout the night. Boston shot 35.8% from the field and 27.3% from three-point range, numbers that made it difficult to maintain its early advantage.
Game analysis
This game turned on efficiency and late execution. Minnesota shot 42.9% from the field and 36.4% from beyond the arc, both marks ahead of Boston’s shooting numbers. The Timberwolves also moved the ball more effectively, finishing with 24 assists compared with 17 for the Celtics.
Boston actually won the first and third quarters, but its scoring dips in the second and fourth proved too much to overcome. The Celtics attempted 95 shots and grabbed 53 rebounds, so they created chances, but the shot quality and conversion rate were not there often enough. Their 9-for-33 performance from three-point range was especially costly in a game that remained within reach until the closing minutes.
Minnesota’s balance stood out. Hyland supplied the top-end scoring, Dosunmu contributed across the board, and Gobert’s rebounding helped the Timberwolves stay organized during Boston’s pushes. When the game tightened in the fourth, Minnesota was the more efficient team on both ends and made the cleaner winning plays.
Closing context
The win moved Minnesota to 44-28 and gave the Timberwolves a solid road result against one of the East’s top teams. Boston dropped to 47-24 after a game in which its defense showed stretches of control, but its offense could not sustain enough momentum late. With the regular season continuing to narrow, both teams will be watching every result closely as they work to strengthen their playoff positioning.
