Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels both had clutch plays in the Timberwolves' victory over the Celtics.

On Monday, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels were at their best when it mattered most. For McDaniels, it meant coming back from a sluggish start to produce crucial plays on both wings. 

During overtime, Jaden McDaniels stood up for Boston's Jayson Tatum.

Anthony Edwards was questioned about a few different topics following the Timberwolves' 114-109 overtime victory over Boston on Monday. Among them were how the defense played so well tonight and what allowed the Wolves to win in the final moments. To each of those, he replied, "Jaden McDaniels."

"You might think I'm trying to be funny, but Jaden McDaniels," Edwards replied. "I'm not attempting to be humorous at all. Show me the video of the one-on-one where he was scored on. In the fourth, they may have isolated him ten times or more, and no one scored on him. Thus, he was the main factor in our victory. He made two big shots in overtime and three big shots in the fourth. If he is not participating in the game, we lose."

On the offensive end of the court, McDaniels had a turbulent start to the game on Monday. Despite Boston practically giving him space to shoot, he missed eight of his first nine attempts. The cruelest miss of that stretch was his last. He probably ought to have dunked the wide-open layup that he missed. McDaniels was shocked that he couldn't make a shot, but Rudy Gobert preserved the possession with a putback.

However, neither Edwards nor McDaniels lost faith in one another. After receiving a pass from Edwards, McDaniels made a three-pointer from the right corner in just twenty-one seconds. Edwards started clapping joyfully at McDaniels.

"When I start off cold they keep feeding me, so it shouldn't change with him," Edwards stated. "He's one of the best players on the team."

One of the most significant moments of the game in the fourth quarter was hinted at by that moment. Edwards attracted a large crowd in the paint as the Wolves trailed 101-98. Once again in the right corner, he was able to get a pass off to McDaniels, who was wide open. With one minute and forty seconds remaining in regulation, he buried the shot for a tie game and the final score.

With 16.1 seconds left in overtime, he made a midrange jumper to seal the victory, bringing the score to 114-109. He scored 20 points in the game, going 8 for 18.

McDaniels credited his teammates profusely for helping him overcome his early shooting setbacks.

"Everyone can see what's happening. Throughout the game, they are always here to support me or give me courage," McDaniels remarked. "I doubt I would have had the game I did today if I hadn't had them. I simply value their presence all around."

For McDaniels, who occasionally lets his frustration get the better of him on the court, this was a crucial game. However, he refrained from using his offensive skills to defend. There on that end of the floor, he was oppressive.

"Defense is my top priority," McDaniels remarked. I'm going to be really good at that. Just keep doing what I do best. I can't let that be impacted by missing shots."

McDaniels' performance that night was encouraging to coach Chris Finch. McDaniels needs to carry that through now.

"This is the maturity that we need in all of our players," Finch stated. "But these are things you have to keep doing. Accidents can happen once. It could be a coincidence twice. If something is done three times, it's most likely a habit. We must arrive three, four, five, and six times a day. Then, it contributes to long-term development."

Gobert was another player who refused to let missed shots hurt his defense. Gobert was a deterrent on the defensive end, despite his 2-for-11 shooting from the free-throw line—which included a deliberate foul toward the end of regulation by the Celtics. In the minutes that Gobert played on Monday, the Wolves were plus-24.

Gobert's ability to guard players on the perimeter is one of the talents he has displayed this season. This aided in matching up with Kristaps Porzingis of Boston, who finished with 20 points but was only 5 for 14 from the field.

 

He was usually quite effective at keeping an eye on the perimeter. However, I believe he looks better than ever this year at doing that, to be honest," guard Mike Conley remarked. "Really staying ahead of the guys, really sliding his feet, and really contesting." He's becoming so good at forcing difficult shots and allowing us to get out on the offensive end that when he has the guy one-on-one, let's try to match up to our guys and try not to overhelp."

Gobert has stated that he is making every effort to be "unpredictable" on defense, and since his physical condition is the best it has ever been, it appears to be working.

"Sometimes, bigs don't expect me to come and pressure them so far away from the basket," Gobert stated. "I'm confident that I can make a play and most likely block the shot, even if they attack me. To make them uncomfortable, I strive to exert even more effort."

Wolves defeat the Celtics in overtime as Edwards seizes the initiative and scores 38 points.

The Target Center crowd was going crazy, and Anthony Edwards, who led the Timberwolves to their third straight victory with a series of baskets in overtime, is one player who loves a boisterous home crowd.