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Garnett leads Celtics into Twin Cities to face Wolves

Mar 27, 2011 - 2:46 PM (Sports Network) - The Boston Celtics have been struggling a bit recently and hope to right the ship Sunday they visit the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves.

Boston's latest loss came on Friday when Dante Cunningham made a go-ahead jumper with 33.9 seconds remaining, as the Charlotte Bobcats rallied past the Celtics, 83-81.

Paul Pierce finished with 18 points for the Celtics, who have lost two in a row and three of five overall. Ray Allen donated 14 points, but went 2-of-7 from beyond the arc.

Kevin Garnett, the former face of the Timberwolves, chipped in with 12 points and nine boards for Boston, which now sits 2 1/2 games behind the Bulls for the top spot in the East and just one-half game ahead of a streaking Miami club. Rajon Rondo tallied 10 points and five assists.

The loss was Boston's first at home against an East opponent (21-1) this season.

"We've just go to go to work," Allen said. "It seems like there's a lot of thinking being done throughout the whole team, throughout the whole game, instead of us just playing; get out there and just play basketball."

The Wolves, meanwhile, lost their sixth straight Friday in Oklahoma City when Russell Westbrook scored 19 points, dished out eight assists and snagged five steals to lead a balanced attack as the Thunder topped Minnesota, 111-103.

Anthony Randolph had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have dropped nine of their last 11 overall. Michael Beasley added 20 points and eight rebounds while Darko Milicic scored 16 in the loss.

Minnesota was again without double-double machine Kevin Love because of a strained left groin. The All-Star also missed Thursday's game at Dallas but could make a return Sunday.

"That's up to our medical staff to determine," Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said.

The Celtics have won eight straight over Minnesota since a 109-107 setback on Feb. 11, 2007 when Garnett still called the Twin Cities home.