Gameday preview: Wolves vs. Boston
February 21, 2020 at 1:38AM
Layman cleared to practice
Wolves update: The Wolves are close to getting one of their injured frontcourt players back. Jake Layman was cleared to return to practice for the first time since suffering a torn ligament in a toe in a game against Utah on Nov. 18. The Wolves will re-evaluate Layman in a week. The Wolves also will be without center Karl-Anthony Towns on Friday as he undergoes further evaluation on his left wrist. The Wolves played without Towns before the break and squandered a 16-point halftime lead to lose to Charlotte. James Johnson likely will start at center. … In two games with the Wolves, D'Angelo Russell is averaging 24 points and eight assists.
Celtics update: After the departure of Kyrie Irving, the Celtics have retaken their place as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and are in a race with Toronto for the No. 2 seed behind Milwaukee. But they will be without All-Star Kemba Walker, who has been ruled out because of a sore left knee. … Jason Tatum earned his first All-Star appearances with a jump in production from 15.7 points a season ago to 22.4 this season. Tatum's effective field-goal percentage has also risen from .506 to .515. … The Celtics are third in the league in net rating (6.8) and are top five in offensive and defensive efficiency.
CHRIS HINE
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Despite so-so record, Wolves have improved at crunch time.
