MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards led the Minnesota Timberwolves with 23 points, while Julius Randle contributed 20 in their victory over the Atlanta Hawks, finishing the game with a score of 100-92 on Monday night.
DeAndre Hunter shone for Atlanta, scoring a personal best of 35 points, supported by Keaton Wallace with 13 points. The Hawks were at a disadvantage, missing key players such as Trae Young, the team’s leading scorer and the NBA’s assist leader, due to a hamstring injury, along with Dyson Daniels (ankle) and Jalen Johnson (shoulder).
Rudy Gobert recorded 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who struggled with their shooting in the third quarter, managing only five field goals while committing nine turnovers. Despite their challenges, Minnesota maintained a lead, though Hunter missed a crucial dunk attempt on Gobert with just 44 seconds remaining, an attempt that could have narrowed the score to four points.
In a game marked by disarray, a small horn unexpectedly fell from the scoreboard at the end of the first quarter, almost striking Gobert as he played on.
Takeaways from the match highlight that without Young, Johnson, and Daniels, who make up 42% of the Hawks’ scoring, Hunter stepped up remarkably in a more prominent role against one of the league’s toughest defenses. This marked Hunter’s 17th game of the season with over 20 points, leading all bench players in that category.
For the Timberwolves, following a significant victory against Denver just days earlier, the focus was on maintaining their composure and avoiding injuries in this match. However, concerns arose when key player Nickeil Alexander-Walker exited the game limping due to a leg injury in the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves also faced a scare, nearly squandering a 17-point lead established at halftime with a lackluster finish to the game.
A notable moment during the match included Gobert dunking on Onyeka Okongwu and then engaging in a stare-down, which escalated into a heated exchange resulting in both players receiving technical fouls.
In terms of statistics, Trae Young has an impressive scoring average of 30.6 points over 13 career games against the Timberwolves, making it his second-highest average against any opponent, only behind Portland, where he averages 31.7 points.
Looking ahead, the Atlanta Hawks will take on the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, while the Minnesota Timberwolves will be visiting the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.
