Jayson Tatum thrilled Boston with 33 points on 13 of 27 shooting, 6 of 17 from three-point range, and added eight rebounds and nine assists.

The Celtics (25-9) committed just four turnovers while forcing 16 from the Timberwolves (17-16), who came close at the free throw line in a 20-4 win over Boston.

The T-Wolves led 35-28 after 12 minutes, tying their highest first quarter score of the season, but the Celtics took a 62-51 lead at halftime, but Minnesota rallied in the final minutes.

Donte DiVincenzo sank three free throws with 28 seconds left to bring the Timberwolves within 118-115.

Minnesota got the ball after a Tatum miss with 3.1 seconds left, but Anthony Edwards missed a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Boston the win.

Derrick White added 26 points for Boston. Julius Randle led Minnesota with 27.

After the game, an honest Edwards expressed his frustration at being split into two teams.

“They’re definitely doubling down on me, like, ‘Brother, what’s going on?’ I’m trying to figure it out… Honestly, I don’t know what to do, but it’s not fun,” he said.

“I don’t want to look like I’m not trying or not being as good as I am, because I am, but I can’t show it because I got double-teamed. It’s definitely frustrating to see these people cooking us and I can’t cook them.”

STEPH FIND ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE HISTORY

Four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry hit 8 of 8 from three-point range, his most career three-pointers without a miss in a game, and scored 30 points to lead the Golden State Warriors 139- 105 against Philadelphia.

Despite a sprained right thumb, the 36-year-old guard and all-time NBA three-point leader made 11 of 15, had 10 assists and was just one behind the most three-pointers without a miss in an NBA game, the 9-on-9 attempts of Jalen Brunson, Ben Gordon and Latrell Sprewell.

“Sometimes a little injury can stop you from focusing on what you need to do,” Curry said. “I normally take a lot more photos, but you take them, you have a rhythm, you take the shots you want, it feels good.

“Usually good things happen in a rhythm like this. But it’s cool to do something for the first time.”

Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 28 points and 14 rebounds.

THUNDER CONTINUES TO WIN

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a game-high 29 points and eight assists to spark the host Thunder over the Los Angeles Clippers 116-98 and improve the Western Conference leaders to 28-5.

The Thunder’s winning streak is the longest since the team moved from Seattle after the 2007-08 season.

“It’s just about being present, moving forward day by day, working on ourselves, and I think we’re doing a good job of that,” said Isaiah Hartenstein, who contributed 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Thunder .

Oklahoma City trailed 52-48 at halftime but outscored the Clippers 42-20 in the third quarter and Los Angeles never caught up.

“We wanted to come out and just absorb the pressure,” Hartenstein said.

“We managed that well.”

TRADE CANDIDATE INSPIRES SURPRISE WIN, LEBRON LEADS AHEAD OF THE LAKERS

Elsewhere, Brooklyn’s Cameron Johnson, the subject of trade speculation, scored 26 points and reliever Cam Thomas added 24 as the Nets won 113-110 in Milwaukee.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for the Bucks while Damian Lillard added 23 points, but the Milwaukee stars each missed their shots late, derailing a rally that included a 20-0 run, with Lillard missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.

LeBron James had 38 points and eight assists to lead the host Los Angeles Lakers to a 114-106 victory over Portland despite Anthony Davis being sidelined with a sprained left ankle.

Trade noise is increasing in Miami

If things aren’t already heading that way, it’s becoming increasingly likely that Jimmy Butler will no longer be in Miami after the NBA’s trade deadline on February 15th.

A candid Jimmy Butler made his feelings about his current situation in Miami clear on Friday when, after scoring just nine points in a 128-115 loss to Indiana, he told reporters that he had lost his joy in to play with the Heat.

“I want to regain my joy in playing basketball. Wherever that is, we’ll find out here soon,” Butler said.

“I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be somewhat dominant again, I want to play basketball and help this team win, and right now I’m not doing that.”

Butler was then asked if he could regain his joy on the court with the Heat and, tellingly, replied, “Probably not.”

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