Keys to the Game: Celtics 104, Timberwolves 102

Grant Williams came up clutch in the most surprising of ways Wednesday night in Minnesota.

The versatile, 6-foot-6 big man won the game for Boston by beating 7-foot-1 Rudy Gobert in a jump ball with 3.1 seconds left. And he did so in unconventional (and maybe a bit illegal) fashion.

Williams didn’t out-leap the three-time Defensive Player of the Year. Instead, Williams out-smarted him by tipping the ball early and as it was still on its way up from the referee’s hands.

That’s not legal, but hey - no whistle, no foul.

Williams tipped the ball out to the right corner of the court and Jayson Tatum gained possession before the Timberwolves fouled him and sent him to the line for two free throws. Tatum connected on both shots with 1.7 seconds left, ostensibly sealing the game for Boston.

The Celtics survived not only because of Williams’ heads-up play, but also because of what preceded that jump ball. He hauled in a critical offensive rebound with 7.1 seconds left to prevent Minnesota from having a chance to tie or win the game in the final seconds.

While Jaylen Brown carried Boston all night, it was Williams who saved the game for the C’s.

For the second time in as many games, Jaylen Brown carried the Boston Celtics’ offense.

Brown scored 35 Wednesday night in Minnesota, marking the second time in as many games during which he reached that number. He just scored 43 Monday night in Houston.

The two-time All-Star shot 12-for-24 from the field, 5-for-8 from long distance, and 6-for-8 from the free-throw line. While Brown shot 50 percent from the field, the rest of his teammates combined to shoot just 36.7 percent.

Coupled with Brown’s scoring were 10 rebounds, which secured his 11^th double-double of the season. He has now grabbed double-figure rebounds during four of his last 12 games.