Anthony Edwards scored 21 of his 30 points in the first half as the Minnesota Timberwolves blew past the short-handed Atlanta Hawks 138-116 on Monday night, using a dominant second quarter to pull away.
Edwards led a balanced Minnesota attack that featured seven players in double figures, helping the Timberwolves rebound from back-to-back losses to New Orleans and the Los Angeles Clippers. Julius Randle posted a triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for Minnesota, which had dropped three of its previous four games.
Minnesota seized control with a decisive 40-18 run spanning the end of the first quarter and the middle of the second, turning a close game into a 79-52 advantage. Atlanta never got closer than 16 the rest of the way, as the Timberwolves led by as many as 31.
A game that had little edge took a turn early in the fourth quarter when Atlanta’s Mouhamed Gueye appeared to trip Minnesota center Naz Reid. The two exchanged words and became involved in an altercation that drew in players and staff from both teams. Both Gueye and Reid were ejected.
Newcomer Ayo Dosunmu, playing his second game since being acquired in a trade from Chicago, scored 21 points off the bench for Minnesota. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 23 points and 12 rebounds against his former team.
CJ McCollum led Atlanta with 38 points, including 18 in the first quarter, but the Hawks struggled to keep pace while playing without Jalen Johnson (left knee inflammation), Dyson Daniels (right ankle inflammation) and newly acquired Jonathan Kuminga (left knee bone bruise). Atlanta has lost four of its last five.
Johnson was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week earlier Monday for the second time this season. Kuminga has not played since being acquired from Golden State in the trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Warriors.
Up next:
Hawks at Charlotte on Wednesday.
Timberwolves host Portland on Wednesday.
