Atlanta Hawks: 5 Takeaways from Overtime Win vs. Timberwolves

Putrid Free Throw Shooting

Perhaps the most notable number from the Timberwolves was how poorly they shot from the free throw line.

Usually, when a team gets to the line for 38 attempts, there’s a good chance that team is going to win. The Atlanta Hawks could not help themselves from fouling the Wolves’ players – as Karl-Anthony Towns was almost impossible to handle in the paint, piling up 15 free throw attempts on the game.

However, he only made 10 of them, which is good for 66.7 percent. Beyond that, the team only shot a hideously low 55.3 percent on their attempts from the charity stripe, with the main culprit being Andrew Wiggins – who went 5 of 12 from the line and seemed totally checked out for much of crunch time in this game.

Towns and Wiggins: Max Players

Wiggins had a terrible game all-around, as he scored 16 points on an inefficient 5 of 14 shooting. When combined with that 5 of 12 free throw shooting and a -7 on/off rating, you get the portrait of a terrible game for Minnesota’s max contract wing.

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1078869589482708993

Their other max contract slot is filled by Karl-Anthony Towns, who had a stupendous game in which he tallied 31 points (10 of 17 shooting) 19 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and 1 steal in a whopping 42 minutes of action.

He also forced almost every big man the Atlanta Hawks had available into foul trouble and only committed 3 fouls himself (home whistle, perhaps?).