Atlanta Hawks snap four-game skid with a win over Minnesota Timberwolves
The Atlanta Hawks finally snapped their four-game losing skid when they escaped with a hard-earned win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, 111-105, on Sunday 14 November at the Philips Arena
in Atlanta.
Al Horford came out big as the 24-year-old centre-forward scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Hawks, who started the season with a 6-0 record before dropping their next four
games.
“Our backs were against the wall,” said Horford at the presser after the game. He also had three blocks and was 9-for-14 from the field. “We've been in a slump, so it was a big one for us.”
Josh Smith also had an outstanding night as he finished the game with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Joe Johnson added 17 points and five assists for the Hawks, who led by as much as 17
points before the Timberwolves rallied to trim the deficit.
“At this point, we had to stop the bleeding,” said Hawks guard Jamal Crawford, who scored 11 points off the bench. “Right now we just have to take it any way we can get it.”
Minnesota raced to an early 17-7 lead in the opening period, but Atlanta quickly recovered and they continued to dominate in the next two quarters. They built a comfortable 81-64 lead with
3:40 left in the third period before the Timberwolves unleashed a huge rally.
The Timberwolves pulled within four points, 97-93, after Corey Brewer hit a three-pointer, but Johnson and Smith came to the rescue for the Hawks with two crucial baskets, leading Atlanta
to a 103-92 lead and they never looked back to take the win.
“We had ample opportunities to create separation but we made some bad plays and made some bad decisions,” said Hawks head coach Larry Drew, who was disappointed after his team blew their
17-point advantage.
Michael Beasley had 25 points, while Kevin Love, who is coming off a 31-point 31-rebound game, finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds, but the Timberwolves couldn’t held on to their early
lead although they were able to put pressure on the Hawks down the stretch.
“I think that shows how hard we can work,” said Beasley about their late rally. “We're a young team. We have to find our niche, know when to speed it up, know when to slow it down, know when
to pressure. But that comes with experience.”
Sebastian Telfair also had a great night for the Timberwolves with his 18 points and eight assists, while Corey Brewer had 11 points and four rebounds for Minnesota.
“They outhustled us,” said Telfair, whose team had 21 costly turnovers in the game. “But our problem tonight was, between me and Kevin and Beasley, we had 15 turnovers. And we're the guys
that have the ball in our hands the whole game. That should not happen. Not for us to win.”
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