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There’s no question the Timberwolves understand the importance of beating the Boston Celtics tonight at Target Center. Minnesota has long since entered into must-win mode each night as the postseason push intensifies.
“Every game before the game we say, ‘This is the biggest game of the year,’ because it really is,” forward Anthony Tolliver said. “We’re really at that point where every game is the most important game of the year, and we still have a chance to make a push.”
The Wolves and Celtics will tip off at 7 p.m. from Target Center in their lone meeting of the season, and both teams have a lot to play for tonight. Minnesota sits 2 ½ games out of a playoff spot in the log-jammed Western Conference, while Boston sits in seventh in the East and is currently tied with Philadelphia for the Atlantic Division lead. Grabbing the division lead would bump them back into the top half of the East.
“Two good teams—they’re trying to make a push, they have a lot of great players,” forward Kevin Love said. “We’re short-handed, but we want to get a win on our home floor before we go on the road.” Past meets the present
Love said during Friday’s shootaround that he grew up idolizing the likes of Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Chris Webber. In fact, he said he still probably has his old Garnett jersey hanging up in his closet back home.
Tonight, he’ll go head to head with his idol who, coincidentally, used to be face of the franchise he now leads. But even as Love puts up unprecedented numbers in March—he currently leads the league in points, rebounds and 3-point field goals this month, something no other player has ever done in the 3-point era (1979-80)—he said the only real comparison between the two All-Stars is the first name they share.
“It’s really an unfair comparison,” Love said. “He’s a once in a generation player, once in a lifetime player. If I can do some of the things he did for this franchise, it would be nice. But more than anything I just want to win, and he brought a lot of winning years to this franchise. Hopefully I can emulate that.”
Love is averaging 31.3 points and 14.1 rebounds this month, which is particularly concerning to Celtics coach Doc Rivers. Boston is 30th in the league in rebounds per game.
