If one had to put the feeling of the Atlanta Hawks (18-25) 121-114 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, ‘relief’ might come to mind. A five-game losing streak and 10-game slide at home finally snapped, the focus has to be stringing together such performances. The Hawks trailed by double digits late in the fourth quarter but used some turnovers by the Bucks to seal it.
It also helped to have Onyeka Okongwu show why he is one of the toughest matchups for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Next, Okongwu and the Hawks will play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves (22-22).
The NBA’s best offense in January, they are averaging 120 points per game on 48.0 percent shooting (3rd) while attempting the most threes, connecting at a 35.6 percent clip, over their last eight games.
Minnesota is 6-2 in that span and is coming off of back-to-back wins over the Warriors and Knicks.
The Hawks will have to extend their feisty defense to the perimeter vs the T’Wolves
Interestingly enough, the Timberwolves used a couple of late steals to turn the momentum in their favor just as the Hawks did one night earlier. And while it was a three-point play by Karl-Anthony Towns that gave them the lead, it was of the old-fashioned kind. Minnesota also benefitted from a missed three by Alec Burks that nearly ended the night differently.
It’s worth noting that Atlanta has allowed opponents to shoot 40.9 percent from outside in January, the second-worst mark in the league ahead of only the Pelicans.
Minnesota is also one of the most transition-heavy outfits in the Association.
They aren’t very efficient, generating just 1.04 points per possession thanks to shooting 49.2 percent. But that might not matter with the Hawks allowing 1.23 PPP and opponents shooting an absurd 58.9 percent against them in transition.
If there is any consolation, it is that the Timberwolves went just 2-of-8 from three-point range in the fourth quarter of their win over the Knicks. New York went 3-of-10 in the frame.
On Monday, however, the Hawks held the Bucks to 3-of-7 from deep while going 4-of-7 themselves.
The Hawks will also have to deal with the Timberwolves myriad guards on top of Towns and budding star Anthony Edwards who combined for 41 points on 48.2 percent shooting against the Knicks. Each of Malik Beasley, Pat Beverly, Jaylen Nowell, or De’Angelo Russell can get into the teeth of the defense
Nowell had 11 points in the fourth quarter of their victory on Tuesday.
The last time these two teams faced off, the Hawks won 121-110 on the strength of a season-high 25 made threes; 14 of which came from Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot who saw less than four minutes versus the Bucks.
Trae Young had 29 points and 11 assists while Luwawu-Cabarrot had 23 points. Danilo Gallinari – who also played a starring role on Tuesday – had 20 points of his own in that one. Towns had 31 points and 16 rebounds in a game that Clint Capela played in. The latter will miss this contest with an ankle injury.
Atlanta will need to maintain the active hands and hustle they showed against Milwaukee. Minnesota also leads the league in assists over the last month. If that wasn’t enough, they lead the league in opponent turnovers, are fifth in steals, and tied for third in blocks.
Working in the Hawks favor, the Timberwolves do average third-most turnovers in the NBA this season while the Hawks themselves sit on the opposite end of the spectrum with the fewest.
Atlanta is just 5-13 since that game while Minnesota has gone 11-9. Hopefully, their efforts from Tuesday carry over and they can go on a different run following another win.