NBA

Minnesota Timberwolves at Atlanta Hawks

· National Basketball Association
14-14, 6-8 Away
Final
104 - 117

15-15, 8-7 Home

Mathews and Young lead the Hawks past the Timberwolves 117-104

Anthony Edwards levitates on rim after ferocious dunk

Trae Young had 29 points and seven assists and De'Andre Hunter added 19 points to help the Hawks halt a three-game losing streak. Young was listed as questionable with a bruised heel but showed no ill effects.

Naz Reid scored 23 off the bench for the Timberwolves, who have lost three straight. Anthony Edwards had 16 points and six rebounds in his only regular-season appearance in his hometown. He shot 7 for 20 from the floor and committed five turnovers while being guarded by NBA defensive player of the month Dyson Daniels most of the night.

Daniels finished with eight steals.

Mathews was 5 for 5 from 3-point range with 15 points in the first half and 7 for 8 for the game.

The Hawks sprinted out to a 30-11 lead as the Timberwolves shot 4 for 20 with five turnovers, but Minnesota rallied quickly and took a 55-52 halftime lead thanks in part to 11 points off the bench from both Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

Takeaways Timberwolves: On a day when Edwards was fined $75,000 for criticizing officials, the Timberwolves came out flat. They rebounded in the first half but faded in the fourth quarter, adding to a frustrating season. Minnesota (14-14) was 22-6 on Christmas Day last season.

Hawks: After a blowout loss to the Grizzlies with Young sidelined, the Hawks bounced back and reached .500 on the season heading into Christmas with a strong performance.

Key moment The Hawks went on an 8-0 run early in the third quarter that turned an 89-87 deficit into a 95-89 lead. Mathews had seven points during the spurt. Atlanta pulled away from there.

Key stat The Hawks were 18 for 36 from 3-point range.

Up next The Timberwolves will play on Christmas for the third time in franchise history when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. The Hawks host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

Regular Season Series

ATL leads series 1-0

Recent Plays

4th 0.0 End of Game 104 - 117
4th 0.0 End of the 4th Quarter 104 - 117
4th 6.1 shot clock turnover 104 - 117
4th 30.1 Rob Dillingham lost ball turnover (Garrison Mathews steals) 104 - 117
4th 38.2 shot clock turnover 104 - 117

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/min.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originMIN https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/atl.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originATL
39-91 FG 39-73
43 Field Goal % 53
14-43 3PT 18-36
33 Three Point % 50
12-13 FT 21-26
92 Free Throw % 81
43 Rebounds 38
16 Offensive Rebounds 6
27 Defensive Rebounds 32
31 Assists 27
12 Steals 15
3 Blocks 6
21 Turnovers 21
0 Team Turnovers 2
21 Total Turnovers 23
1 Technical Fouls 0
1 Total Technical Fouls 0
0 Flagrant Fouls 0
26 Points Conceded Off Turnovers 22
22 Fast Break Points 13
48 Points in Paint 40
17 Fouls 14
5 Largest Lead 19
Atlanta Hawks Atlanta Hawks Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Keshon Gilbert, G Out Nov 12
Asa Newell, F Out Nov 12
Kingston Flemings, G Day-To-Day Nov 12
Mouhamed Gueye, F Out Oct 19
Henri Veesaar, C Out Sep 21
Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Anthony Edwards, G Out Oct 29
Donte DiVincenzo, G Out Oct 5

Game Information

State Farm Arena

Location: Atlanta, GA
Attendance: 17,051 · Capacity:

2026-27 Northwest Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Portland 8 3 .727 - W2
Minnesota 8 3 .727 - W4
Oklahoma City 8 4 .667 0.5 L2
Denver 6 4 .600 1.5 W1
Utah 1 11 .083 7.5 L10

2026-27 Southeast Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Atlanta - 5 L1 0.5833333 7
Miami 1.5 6 W2 0.45454547 5
Charlotte 2.5 7 W1 0.36363637 4
Orlando 2.5 7 W2 0.36363637 4
Washington 3 8 L5 0.33333334 4
Full Standings

NBA News

Rockets' Marcus Smart suspended three games for punch

Rockets' Marcus Smart suspended three games for punch

The NBA on Thursday suspended Rockets guard Marcus Smart three games without pay for throwing a punch at Warriors center Charles Bassey.

Sources: Bulls' Caleb Wilson to have surgery on fractured hand, miss 4-6 weeks

Sources: Bulls' Caleb Wilson to have surgery on fractured hand, miss 4-6 weeks

Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson will undergo surgery for a fractured right hand and miss four to six weeks, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Tim MacMahon: Yaxel Lendeborg needs to be 'go-to guy' with Steph out

Tim MacMahon: Yaxel Lendeborg needs to be 'go-to guy' with Steph out

Tim MacMahon: Yaxel Lendeborg needs to be 'go-to guy' with Steph out

Shams: Steph Curry to be sidelined for 2-4 weeks

Shams: Steph Curry to be sidelined for 2-4 weeks

Shams: Steph Curry to be sidelined for 2-4 weeks

76ers Joel Embiid (foot) questionable, LeBron James (back) out vs. Raptors

76ers Joel Embiid (foot) questionable, LeBron James (back) out vs. Raptors

76ers center Joel Embiid is questionable for Thursday night's game against the Raptors with right foot plantar fascia management. LeBron James is out with lower back/sciatica management.