second game after being eliminated from playoff contention T

MINNEAPOLIS -- Al Horfords return sparked the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. Coupled with Jae Crowder returning to the lineup, Boston is healthy again and looking like a team to compete in the Eastern Conference.The Minnesota Timberwolves wont be competing until they find more consistency.Horford and the Celtics travel to Minnesota on Monday night, having won four of their past six games. Horford scored 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals for Boston (7-6) in Saturdays 94-92 victory at Detroit.I felt really good, Horford said. It was just very frustrating these past few weeks, dealing with a lot of different things. Finally I was at the point where I felt good enough to play.Horford was Bostons prize free agent acquisition in the offseason, but he has been limited to four games because of a concussion. Crowder also returned Saturday for Boston after missing seven games with an ankle injury.With the two starters back, the Celtics were at full strength with Marcus Smart and Kelly Olynyk going back to the bench to boost the second unit.Horford scored with 1.3 seconds left and provided a key block on the other end to preserve the Celtics win over the Pistons.We didnt call a timeout in the last four minutes. They just played, Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. I felt like we had a good lineup in there to score and get to the basket, those types of things. Guys made the right reads and right plays.Minnesota (4-8) was also on the road Saturday. But the Memphis Grizzlies stifled the Timberwolves high-scoring offense in a 93-71 Memphis victory. Minnesota shot just 39.1 percent from the field and were held below 92 points for the first time this season.In the process, the Timberwolves slipped to 15th in the NBA in scoring at 105.0 points per game. Minnesota had 16 turnovers and was outrebounded 46-34.There are three things -- your defense, your rebounding and your turnovers -- that put you in position to win, Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. Two of those three we did not do well enough to win.Andrew Wiggins was held to seven points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field in the loss. Wiggins had sparked the team offensively, averaging 33 points per game in his previous six games.That was a rare night for that kid, Memphis coach David Fizdale said of Wiggins. Hes an animal.Wiggins will draw the defense of Crowder, who gives Boston a taller look after the team had started the 6-foot-4 Smart the previous five games. Horford could match up with Karl-Anthony Towns, who had 17 points and three rebounds on Saturday, or Gorgui Dieng, who finished with nine points and 11 rebounds.Minnesota split four home games last week before traveling to Memphis. 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NEW YORK -- Since losing four straight home games to the Boston Red Sox, the Baltimore Orioles have recovered nicely.The recovery has gone so well that not only are the Orioles solidifying their standing as wild card team, they might get a chance to host the play-in game next week.More performances like Fridays 8-1 victory at rainy Yankee Stadium would help and by the end of Saturday, the Orioles could know if they are hosting the wild card game.Step one is to beat the Yankee on Saturday afternoon and step two is for the Toronto Blue Jays to lose to the Boston Red Sox Saturday night at Fenway Park.The Orioles are in the favorable position because they have won six of their last seven games since Sept. 22. They swept Arizona at home last weekend, took two of three in Toronto and opened the series in New York by getting home runs from Jonathan Schoop, Adam Jones and Mark Trumbo.Those home runs moved the Orioles (88-72) a game ahead of the Blue Jays. Toronto only leads the Tigers by one half-game for the second wild card spot and Baltimore should clinch Saturday, it might not even find out its opponent until Monday.Not much at all until I had no choice because it was right behind the pitchers head every time I looked out there, Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said in his best attempt to deny watching scoreboards. I caught a couple of glimpses, but I dont watch it that much. I really dont. I watch our scoreboard a lot.Since the finale of their series with the Red Sox, the Orioles have hit 12 of their major league-leading 250 home runs and scored 27 runs.Perhaps more importantly is Baltimores pitchers, which has been regarded as a significant weakness, has turned in a 1.38 ERA in those games.On Friday Yovani Gallardo followed 6 2/3 strong innings by Ubaldo Jimenez in Toronto when allowed one run and two hits in six innings On Saturday it will be Wade Mileys turn to keep it rolling.Miley missed the series in TToronto to be with his wife, who gave birth to the couples first child.ddddddddddddHe returned Friday and the Orioles will look to see if he can follow up his best start of the season.A week ago, Miley struck out 11 hitters in 8 2/3 innings against Arizona at Camden Yards.Command of the fastball and setting up the off-speed pitches (was big), Miley said. (Catcher Matt Wieters) did a great job. I mightve shook one time all night long. We just kind of had a plan, and he put down the right fingers.Miley is 0-3 with a 5.77 ERA in six career starts against the Yankees. He had a chance for a win at New York April 10, 2015 when he held a 3-0 lead but Bostons bullpen blew the lead before winning a 19-inning decision.New York will be playing its second game after being eliminated from playoff contention Thursday night. While the Yankees have won four of five, they also have dropped 12 of 19 since a seven-game winning streak Sept. 4-10.Its no fun being in this position, New York manager Joe Girardi said. It isnt. You dont work to be in this position. You work to be in the other.The Yankees also will be hoping rookie Gary Sanchez can conclude the season with a .300 average. Sanchez is batting .298 and has one hit in his last 26 at-bats, marking the first time his average is under .300 since Aug. 9.Masahiro Tanaka likely would have started had the Yankees remained in contention. Tanaka missed his last start with a forearm strain but once the Yankees were eliminated they decided not to pitch him.Hes healthy, Girardi said. He threw a really good bullpen the other day. It just doesnt make sense for us.Instead, Luis Severino will start and try to get his first win a starting pitcher this season. Severino is 3-8 with a 5.75 ERA but as a starting pitcher he is 0-8 with an 8.59 ERA in 10 starts. ' ' '