If the last few weeks have told us anything about the Boston Celtics (47-23), it’s this:

They don’t always make it easy, but they almost always find a way.

That reality sets the stage for Sunday night’s matchup at TD Garden against the Minnesota Timberwolves (43-28), a playoff-caliber opponent that presents a very different kind of test than what Boston has seen lately.

The Celtics enter this one riding a wave of momentum, having won four straight games and continuing to tighten their grip on the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

But those wins haven’t all looked the same.

Boston has blown teams out, grinded through ugly stretches, and - most recently - escaped a potential trap game in Memphis (24-46) with a late surge that reinforced a familiar theme:

This group’s margin for error is wider than most.

Even when the offense stalls. Even when the stars misfire.

Minnesota, meanwhile, comes in as the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference at 43-28, but will be without its engine.

Anthony Edwards, who torched Boston for 39 points the last time these teams met, has already been ruled out, dramatically altering the complexion of this matchup.

That previous meeting still lingers as a reminder of what can happen when Boston loses control of the margins.

Despite a monster 41-point performance from Jaylen Brown and a dominant showing on the glass, the Celtics fell 119-115 in Minneapolis, undone largely by Minnesota’s shot-making from beyond the arc and timely scoring runs.

It’s a blueprint Boston has spent months correcting.

Since then, the Celtics have evolved into one of the league’s most complete teams, blending elite defense, improved ball movement, and a deeper, more reliable rotation.

Derrick White continues to anchor the backcourt on both ends, Jayson Tatum is rounding back into form as his minutes climb, and Brown has taken on stretches where he simply overwhelms opponents.

Still, this won’t be a walkover.

Minnesota remains one of the more physical, disciplined teams in the league. And even without Edwards, they have enough size and structure to make things uncomfortable - especially if Boston slips into the kind of uneven stretches that have popped up from time to time.

For a Celtics team with its eyes firmly set on June, this is another opportunity to prove something simpler:

Not just that they can win, but how consistently they can control the game when it matters most.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Boston Celtics Information

Game Date: March 22, 2026
Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
TV Channel: NBC (National)
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub (Boston) & KFNX-FM 100.3 The Fan (Minnesota)
Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Live Stream: Peacock, Fubo, NBA League Pass

Missed any of Friday night’s win over Memphis? Here’s everything you need to know:

At this point, it’s not a hot streak. It’s a standard.

Brown led the way with 30 points and 6 assists, marking his third straight 30-point game.

And once again, it came in a variety of ways.

He attacked mismatches, knocked down timely threes, and helped steady things when Boston’s offense stalled.

Even when the game got messy - turnovers, missed shots, inconsistent flow - Brown remained the one constant.

That’s what stars do.

‘M-V-P! M-V-P!’

Boston doesn’t win this game without Luka Garza.

Simple as that.

Garza delivered a season-high 22 points, added 8 rebounds, and dominated the offensive glass when the Celtics desperately needed extra possessions.

His physicality helped Boston survive long stretches where nothing else was working offensively.

“He was great on both ends,” Joe Mazzulla told the media postgame.

More importantly, he changed the feel of the game.

Have Garza-games like this while the team is still down Nikola Vucevic is vital to Boston keeping pace at the top of the Eastern Conference.

If the shot-making wasn’t there, Boston found another way.

The Celtics grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and turned that into a 28-13 edge in second-chance points.

That margin alone helped offset 12 turnovers and a sluggish shooting night.

Neemias Queta (12 points, 11 rebounds) and Garza combined to control the interior, giving Boston a clear advantage even while Memphis found rhythm in transition.

It wasn’t clean basketball, but it was effective.

And for a team that spent much of the early part of the season struggling on the boards, having a game like this so late into the season is a great example of the growth they’ve made in that department.

For the first time since returning, Tatum looked out of sync.

He finished just 3 for 15 from the field, missing his first eight shots and never quite finding a rhythm. But even in a rough night, he contributed with 9 rebounds and stayed engaged defensively.

More importantly, Boston didn’t need him to carry the load.

That’s growth.

The Celtics trailed early in the fourth quarter and looked stuck.

Then they flipped the switch.

A 21-5 run changed everything, fueled by defense, hustle plays, and contributions from an unlikely lineup.

Derrick White helped spark it, and Boston finally created the separation it had been chasing all night.

It wasn’t dominant. But it was enough.

At this stage of the season, that’s what matters most.

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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.