Whatisit.com - The Minnesota Timberwolves will have a tough challenge on Wednesday night, as they face the Boston Celtics at TD Garden without two of their key players. Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert, who are both starters and All-Stars, will miss the game due to rest and injury, respectively.
Conley rests, Gobert hurts his hip
Conley, who is averaging 18.7 points and 8.9 assists per game, will sit out the game as part of his injury management plan. The 34-year-old point guard has a history of injuries, and the Wolves are being cautious with him to preserve him for the playoffs. Conley has missed six games this season, and the Wolves are 3-3 without him.
Gobert, who is averaging 15.4 points and 14.1 rebounds per game, is questionable for the game with left hip soreness. The 29-year-old center suffered the injury in the Wolves' win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, and did not return to the game. Gobert is the anchor of the Wolves' defense, which is the best in the league. He leads the NBA in blocks (3.1) and defensive rating (101.8). Gobert has missed three games this season, and the Wolves are 1-2 without him.
Wolves look for second win in Boston since 2005
The Wolves, who are first in the Western Conference with a 26-10 record, will try to overcome the absence of Conley and Gobert and snap their 18-game losing streak in Boston. The Wolves have not won a game at TD Garden since 2005, when Kevin Garnett was still on their roster. The Wolves did beat the Celtics in their first meeting this season, 114-109 in overtime, on Nov. 6 at Target Center. Anthony Edwards had a career-high 48 points in that game, and will look to repeat his performance on Wednesday.
Celtics aim to extend home winning streak to 18
The Celtics, who are first in the Eastern Conference with a 28-8 record, will try to extend their home winning streak to 18 games and maintain their lead over the Miami Heat, who are second with a 26-10 record. The Celtics have the second-best offense and defense in the league, and are led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who are both averaging over 25 points per game. The Celtics will also be without one of their starters, Kristaps Porzingis, who is questionable with a right knee contusion. Porzingis is averaging 19.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
How to watch and listen to the game
The game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Jan. 10. You can watch the game on Bally Sports North or NBA League Pass, or listen to the game on iHeartRadio or the Timberwolves app.
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