Towns, Wiggins help Wolves race past Atlanta Hawks
Minnesota coach Ryan Saunders moved Jeff Teague out of the starting lineup to give the reserves more scoring punch.
The Timberwolves reserves responded, scoring 46 points in a 125-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.
The idea to move Teague to the bench wasn’t that of Saunders alone. He said he and the former Hawks guard have been talking about it for some time.
“We talked earlier. It’s more about who ends games, too,” Saunders said. “Jeff Teague is a professional and he’s a man. It came about with him and I having a casual conversation. He said, ‘I’m good with whatever role you want me in.’ He saw and agreed that there was a need in that second unit.”
Teague had eight points and eight assists. Reserves Keita Bates-diop and Gorgui Dieng each scored 13.
“Gorgui was amazing . ... When he’s given the opportunity, he goes out and makes magic happen,” said Karl-anthony Towns, who scored 28 points and had 13 rebounds for Minnesota. “Jeff (Teague) is just a pro. He’s an amazing guy to have in the locker room. We’re in this to win. We’re not about individual accolades.”
Andrew Wiggins added 25 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves rode three big offensive quarters.
Trae Young scored 37 points for the Hawks, who outscored the Timberwolves 34-16 in the second quarter. But Minnesota had 38 points in the first quarter, 39 in the third and 32 in the fourth against one of the NBA’S weakest de
ATLANTA —
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) battles against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jeff Teague (0) in the first half. fensive teams and snapped Other than in that second a two-game skid. quarter, the youngish
Jabari Parker pitched in Atlanta squad frequently 22 points for the Hawks and busted defensive assignments, rookie center Bruno Fernansuch as when they do scored a career-high 13. were double-teaming Anthony
The Timberwolves shot 63.6% in the third quarter. in the first quarter and opened “We had a lot of undisciplined a 40-30 lead early in the secplay,” said Hawks ond, but missed 15-of-19 shots coach Lloyd Pierce. “We were over the rest of the period. leaving strong-side shooters
Young scored 14 points in (open), we were doubleteaming the quarter while Hawks attacked in the post when we the basket frequently weren’t in that coverage. It and had 21 points and seven was the lack of discipline on assists — several on alley-oop a lot of our defensive possessions lob passes — by halftime, leadthat got us in trouble ... ing Atlanta to a 64-54 lead. “Blitzing KAT in the second
Towns heated up after halftime half wasn’t the plan and because to pull the Timberwolves there were some cross back into the game. In the matches, guys just overacted third quarter alone, he had to the situation and we got 15 points, eight rebounds and caught with him hitting the three assists to help Minnesota cutter a couple times . . . At take a 93-90 lead to the this stage, every game has a fourth quarter. different personality.”