Returning home after a negative East Coast road trip of two losses to one win, Wolves continued the same theme with a new Eastern Conference team, the Trae Young Hawks. But above all, they found their All Star interior, Karl-Anthony Towns, absent on injury since November 28!
This return came at the right time because it is indeed Towns who will be clutch, by registering the two throws of the victory for Minnesota (125-124) after a very disputed match with many twists.
From the first quarter, the Wolves tried to go it alone on the shoulders of a very good Jaden McDaniels by quickly pointing to +8. But Atlanta responded tit for tat by going back in front on a 3-pointer from a bleeding De’Andre Hunter.
With a 5-point advantage at half-time, the Wolves will again count an interesting mattress before in turn taking a downpour from the Hawks who will rise to +7 at the end of the third quarter. The pattern will repeat itself in the last quarter with Atlanta +10 at 7 minutes from the end, but this smooth action between Prince who serves Gobert who shifts Reid for the dunk will put Wolves back on the right track for the end of the match.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— Return of KAT. After almost four months of absence, Karl-Anthony Towns made his comeback in the NBA. A comeback which unfortunately coincides with the injury of Anthony Edwards, and which therefore still deprives the Wolves of all their vital forces. But a return that did good without delay. Because Towns was not only solid with 22 points at 8/18 on shots including 2/3 from afar, he was above all decisive with the two shots to win less than 4 seconds from the final buzzer. A successful comeback!
— Atlanta couldn’t kill the game in the last quarter. Victorious at home against these same Wolves ten days ago at home, the Hawks were defeated on the wire. And they can bite their wings, all the more so after having led quite well in the score in the last quarter, with a +10 7 minutes from the end which evaporated like snow in the sun behind a 19-5 of the Wolves led by Naz Reid in particular. With the game in hand, Atlanta lacked killer instinct in the final quarter.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jaden McDaniels. In his third (and best) career season, he continues to rise in rank with Wolves. The winger had a big game tonight with a multitude of attacks towards the circle but also outside shooting behind the screens of Rudy Gobert. He finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks, equaling his season high.
✅ Naz Reid. With 26 points and 8 rebounds, the substitute inside made a sensational entry, also multiplying the attacks towards the circle with his mobility and his good hand. A very effective outing at 11/15 on shots, including 13 points in the last quarter.
✅⛔ Trae Young. The Hawks point guard made Trae Young, with 29 points and 8 assists, but also 6 stray bullets and a small 6/16 on shots. A little erased at the end of the game, he still made his hundredth game in a row with 5 or more assists, the longest active streak in the NBA and the 9th in League history.
⛔ The Hawks Defense. Despite the arrival of Dejounte Murray, there is still a real defensive concern with the main rotation of Quin Snyder. Knowing that Trae Young and John Collins are not war thunderbolts on this side of the field, Atlanta still has a nice puzzle to solve…
THE FOLLOWING
Atlanta (36-37): return home to receive the Pacers on Saturday.
Minnesota (37-37): trip to Golden State for a nice duel on Sunday.
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