Celtics vs. Timberwolves tonight: tip-off time, how to watch without missing a play, and the Neemias Queta update

Basio badr

ago 2 hours

Celtics vs. Timberwolves tonight

Celtics vs. Timberwolves tips off today, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET from Target Center in Minneapolis. It’s an early-evening showcase for two teams hovering around the top half of their conferences and looking to set a tone heading into December.

Where to watch Celtics vs. Timberwolves

You can watch through the national TV window and each team’s in-market regional broadcast. A league-authorized streaming option and the teams’ authenticated apps/sites will carry the game for subscribers. If you’re cord-cutting, major live-TV streaming bundles that include national basketball coverage and regional sports networks in your market will have it; blackout rules may apply.

Start times by region

5:00 p.m. ET (US East/Canada)
4:00 p.m. CT (Minneapolis local)
2:00 p.m. PT (US West)
10:00 p.m. GMT (UK)
12:00 a.m. Cairo (Sun)

Pro tip: Open your stream or network app 10 minutes early—pre-roll commercials can delay authentication right at tip.

Neemias Queta status and rotation ripple effects

The Neemias Queta watch tilts positive: he’s available after a brief ankle setback, restoring a valuable rim-protection and rebounding piece to Boston’s second unit. With Queta active, Boston can keep a true drop-big on the floor longer, protect the defensive glass, and buy rest for the starting frontcourt without sacrificing size. Look for a tighter box-out emphasis after some wobbles on second-chance points in recent games.

For Minnesota, the headline is continuity. A healthy rotation supports their preferred template: pace in controlled bursts, physical point-of-attack defense, and heavy usage of their primary shot-creators in the half court.

Why this matchup matters now

Measuring-stick defense: Boston’s best stretches this month have come when they stack stops without fouling; Minnesota’s physicality forces that discipline for 48 minutes.
Paint touches vs. threes: The Celtics’ offense hums when paint touches precede kick-outs. If the Wolves flatten drives and force early-clock threes, shot quality dips.
Glass game: Second-chance points could swing the night. Queta’s minutes and Minnesota’s gang-rebound approach are a direct collision point.

Expected approaches: Celtics vs. Timberwolves

Boston

Spacing and slot cuts to pry open corner threes, with the guard rotation toggling pace after makes.
Selective switching to keep bodies in front of drivers, then scram switches to avoid deep mismatches against bigger wings.
Bench big minutes to stabilize defensive rebounding and protect the rim in non-starter lineups.

Minnesota

Strong-side help early, weak-side stunt late—invite the midrange pull-up rather than the rim touch.
Early offense through drag screens to force cross-matches before Boston’s half-court shell is set.
Off-ball bully cuts to test Boston’s communication on the back line.

Players and matchups to watch

Primary scorers: Minnesota’s lead guard/wing combo vs. Boston’s on-ball stoppers—who wins the first step and the whistle?
Secondary creators: Boston’s auxiliary ball-handlers must punish aggressive top-locking with back cuts and quick middle drives.
Rim deterrence: Queta’s verticality vs. Minnesota’s downhill finishing; one or two momentum blocks can flip a quarter.
Bench wings: The first reserve who strings together a corner three, a deflection, and a put-back often swings Boston’s second-unit minutes.

Game-day logistics and viewing checklist

Set recordings to start five minutes early and run 30–45 minutes long; close games stretch with reviews and late timeouts.
Check blackouts before you pay for a single-game stream; in-market rules still bite.
Turn on push alerts in your team/league app for live lineup notes 60–45 minutes before tip.
Headphones mode: If you’re mobile, switch to audio-only during commutes; the radio call syncs cleanly with most live-score apps.

Quick notes on names and availability

Neemias Queta: Available; watch his stint lengths as a proxy for how Boston feels about the glass battle.
Rotational guards/wings: Several are listed day-to-day around the league this weekend; check the in-app game page near tip for any last-second downgrades.
Nembhard: Not part of this matchup’s rosters; the name pops in searches due to nearby conference opponents on the schedule grid.

Celtics vs. Timberwolves is a classic style test: Boston’s spacing, ball movement, and back-line length against Minnesota’s physicality and late-clock shot-making. If Boston wins the rebounding margin and stacks two stops → one score sequences, they usually control the tempo. If Minnesota drags this into a half-court trench and squeezes the paint, the Target Center crowd can tilt the final minutes. Either way, it starts at 5:00 p.m. ET—be logged in and settled before the opening tip.