Marcus Smart looked like a new player Friday night in Boston. With the rest of his Celtics team struggling to shoot above 30 percent, he was picking his spots, working in-between and finishing shots inside the arc. He burst to 7-of-11 shooting to start the night, and finished with 18 points.
Terry Rozier and Smart emerged with efficient, completely in-control games. They switched, worked inside and dribbled with poise as the Celts struggled through stretches of inefficient offense and struggled defensively, hashing out 28 free throws. The Celtics escaped with a 91-84 win, behind a 17-3 second half run that established a double-digit lead over Minnesota.