MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's Big 3 gave a post-Christmas gift to their fans by beating the visiting Atlanta Hawks, 104-90 at the Target Center.
Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 22 points while Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins finished with 21 apiece. Towns, who went 3-for-3 from long distance, added 11 boards, 4 dimes and 3 blocks.
Gorgui Dieng contributed 14 points and 7 rebounds and his defense against All-Star Dwight Howard helped neutralize the Hawks. Ricky Rubio had only 3 points but he threw 10 dimes with zero turnovers. Shabazz Muhammad added 12 points off the bench.
"We can all go out there and have the kind of nights where we light up the NBA" the reigning Rookie of the Year Towns said after the game.
Much to the delight of the 15, 617 fans who trooped to the Target Center, the Wolves led by as many as 29 points..
Howard topscored for the Hawks with 20 points and 12 rebounds, carding his 19th double-double of the season. Thabo Sefolosha contributed had 13 points while Minnesota native Kris Humphries submitted 12 points, all in the second half.
"It's for sure frustrating, but we've got to find a way, It's still early, but we need to figure it out now. We've got to change something and we don't" starting Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder from Germany said during post game interview.
Forward Paul Millsap missed his 12 in his first 13 shots and scored only 7 points, he left the game early after he suffered an eye minor injury. There are four Minnesota native who played last night, two from both teams. Tyus Jones (Burnsville City) and Cole Aldrich (Bloomington City) from the Timberwolves while Humphries (Minneapolis City) and forward/center Mike Muscala (St. Louis Park City) from the Hawks.
Overtime
The Minnesota Timberwolves (10-21) hits the road and will face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday while the Atlanta Hawks (15-16) heads back home and will host the New York Knicks on the same night.
Photo: Timberwolves vs Hawks Monday night at Target Center, Photo by Daniel Quindao Guden of PhilBoxing.com.
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