MINNEAPOLIS _ The fourth quarter is the new third for the Timberwolves.
That was the new wrinkle the Wolves showed the crowd at Target Center on Monday against the Celtics. A team that has so often struggled with third-quarter swoons saved their worst for last quarter in a 99-93 loss to Boston.
And this just moments after the Wolves appeared to have beaten their third-quarter blitz.
Up 13 to start the fourth after a strong third quarter, the Wolves collapsed. Boston, playing mainly reserves to start the quarter, opened it with a 17-0 run to go up four points on Al Horford's basket.
After a time out Karl Anthony Towns converted on a three-point play to pull the Wolves within a point, but the Celtics didn't let up, keeping the Wolves at bay, ultimately out-scoring Minnesota 31-12 in the fourth.
Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas scored 29 points to lead Boston, which is getting healthier by the day. Horford scored 20 and Avery Bradley scored 13.
Towns scored 27 points with 18 rebounds. Gorgui Dieng had 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Towns (six), Andrew Wiggins (four) and Dieng (two) Wolves players to score points in the final 12 minutes.
After breaking with recent tradition with a strong third quarter, one that grew a 10-point halftime lead to 13 by the time it ended, the Wolves went cold to start the fourth.
The Celtics smoothly, methodically, took control of the game in which they had trailed by as many as 15 late in the third.
Three-pointers by Jonas Jerebko and Jaylen Brown cut it to seven. After a pair of Wolves misses, Jerebko scored again. Jerebko then blocked Dieng at the other end, and Horford's jam made it a three-point game.
With Towns scoring the first six points, the Wolves opened the game on a 7-0 run, only to have the Celtics respond with a 9-0 run. The Celtics lead by as many as five twice in the quarter. But the Wolves, who hit on just nine of their first 25 shots, managed to keep it close. And some late defensive stops allowed the Wolves to close within 23-20 entering the second.
With most the second unit in to start the second quarter, the Wolves started slowly, falling behind by seven, forcing a Wolves timeout.
Out of that break came the first of two Wolves second-quarter runs.
In the first Bjelica scored six points and Dieng four in a 13-2 run that put the Wolves up 37-33 on Dieng's setup from LaVine.
Minutes later, with the starters back in, came the second run. With the score tied at 38, the Wolves ended the half on a 14-4 run to lead 52-42 at the half. Towns had a 3-pointer and five points in the run, LaVine a three-point play, Dieng two baskets.
And then, in the third the Wolves built on the lead. Breaking with their early-season tradition, the Wolves, up double figures to start the third, didn't let it slip away.
Leading the way was Rubio, who had seven points, four rebounds and four assists in the third.
But it was a team effort. Dieng scored another six points in the third. Towns and LaVine had four. In all seven players scored for the Wolves, who shot 10-for-17 and lead by as many as 15. Boston, meanwhile, was held to 11-for-25 shooting.
