Avery Bradley’s efforts weren’t enough to power the Celtics past the Timberwolves Monday. (Getty Images)
It’s a good thing for the Celtics (38-36) that Philadelphia, the ninth-place team in the East, has more or less mailed in its 2013 season. Otherwise, the C’s could have faced a scenario in which they would sit out of the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
The C’s reached another low-point in their tumultuous, injury-riddled season Monday night in Minnesota as they fell to the 27-46 Timberwolves, 110-100, at Target Center.
Playing without Kevin Garnett (left ankle) and Paul Pierce (personal reasons), the Celts were forced to start Chris Wilcox at the 4 and had Shavlik Randolph playing 21 minutes. Avery Bradley led the C’s with 19 points while Terrence Williams and Jason Terry each had 14 points off the bench.
Nikola Pekovic led the T’Wolves with 29 points while Ricky Rubio dished out 10 assists.
What they’ll be saying: As was the case Sunday in Manhattan, the Celtics look as though they’re resting their top stars in order to be fresh for the playoffs, which begin April 20. The C’s are now three games behind Chicago for the sixth spot in the East and lead eighth-seeded Milwaukee but just a game and a half. If Boston falls to the eight-spot, they would face Miami in the first round. If the Green stay at the seven-spot they would face either New York or Indiana in late April (barring a miraculous, late-season push by Brooklyn).
