"Boston coach Doc Rivers faces Miami three or four times every season in the Eastern Conference, and last spring the two teams played five more times in a first-round playoff series.

So he knows Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley, enough to know not to be surprised by the third-year forward's scoring abilities.

"Offensively, I've been a big believer in him," Rivers said before his Celtics beat the Timberwolves 96-93 on Monday night. "I just think he can score. I said it two years ago: I think one day he may lead the league in scoring. He just knows how to score the ball. He has a Carmelo ability to score the ball."

Beasley scored 19 points, playing only 23 minutes because of foul trouble.

"He's a matchup problem every night," Rivers said. "He's tough for 3s [small forwards] to guard because of his size. He's too quick for 4s [power forwards]. And he can shoot. Obviously that's the key. He has quickness and a shot at that size. That makes him tough to guard.""