Game 18 Preview: Timberwolves at Celtics

Rajon Rondo returns from his two-game suspension tonight against
the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Celtics (9-8) will try to get into double-digits in the win column tonight as they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves (8-8) from the TD Garden.

Minnesota is coming off an impressive win in Philadelphia against the Sixers on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Celtics are rested and ready to pick up where they left off. Although they went 1-1 without Rondo, head coach Doc Rivers likes his team's progress. "Overall, the last two games, I like where we are at," Rivers said. "But we've got to continue to do it. We've yet to be consistent, in my opinion. You can be consistent and lose a game, and I think Milwaukee was an example of that. I thought we played with the right spirit, but we just have to have that consistent effort. You think of those two games, today's practice was extremely hard, as far as the way they went -- it wasn't long. We've got to get that mentality."

Hopefully, the Celtics can carry that into tonight's game. Here's a preview:

Projected lineups:

Timberwolves:

Luke Ridnour 

Malcolm Lee

Josh Howard

Kevin Love 

Nikola Pekovic

Celtics:

Rajon Rondo

Jason Terry

Paul Pierce

Brandon Bass

Kevin Garnett

Keys to the game:

1. Getting on the boards: As far as the rebounding aspect of the game is concerned, this will be the Celtics toughest test of the season. The Wolves are fourth in the league in rebounding led by Kevin Love, who Paul Pierce and Doc Rivers called the best rebounder of our era. Love is averaging 14.6 boards a game, and Nikola Pekovic and Andrei Kirilenko are averaging more than 7 rebounds a game as well. In order to combat their attack, the C's need to get EVERYONE involved on the glass. Everyone needs to chip in and do their job, or else Kevin Love and company will cruise to an easy victory.

2. Don't let them all beat you: The Wolves currently have six players averaging double-digits in points. The Celtics have four. In order to beat this team, the Celtics cannot allow the entire team to get involved. They need to limit the attack to only two or three players in double digits at most. The C's need to rely on their aging core tonight to right the ship. They've had ample rest, and when they have a lot of rest, they usually look fresh and energized. Look for big games out of the 35 and older club.