MINNEAPOLIS — The Timberwolves didn’t let this one breathe. Minnesota detonated for 81 first-half points and never looked back, rolling past the Atlanta Hawks 138-116 on Tuesday night at Target Center.
The headline number: 36 assists for Minnesota, a clean indicator of how the game tilted. Atlanta finished with 20 assists and spent most of the night chasing the ball as Minnesota played faster, cleaner, and with far more connectivity.
Game flow: Minnesota’s first-half punch decides it
Minnesota’s advantage showed up immediately on the scoreboard. The Timberwolves hung 41 points in the first quarter to take a 41-34 lead, then cracked the game open with a 40-22 second quarter. That 81-56 halftime margin turned the final two quarters into a matter of management rather than drama.
Atlanta had its best stretch coming out of the break, winning the third quarter 31-25. But any momentum was temporary: Minnesota answered in the fourth, 32-29, keeping the lead comfortably in hand to the finish.
Turning point: the 40-22 second quarter
The decisive sequence was the second quarter, when Minnesota’s offense hit a different gear. The Timberwolves outscored Atlanta by 18 in the period, turning a competitive first quarter into a runaway before halftime. With Minnesota consistently creating shots through the pass, Atlanta couldn’t string together enough stops to change the game’s shape.
Stat of the night: 36 assists
Minnesota’s 36 assists were the clearest snapshot of the night’s rhythm. The Wolves repeatedly generated advantage by moving the ball side-to-side, forcing Atlanta into rotations and keeping the defense in recovery mode. Atlanta’s 20 assists underscored the contrast: far fewer shared possessions, far fewer easy looks created through flow.
What it means going forward
The win pushes Minnesota (33-22) further along in an up-and-down recent stretch (WLLWL entering the night) and reinforces what the Timberwolves can look like when their offense is organized and unselfish: a team that can put a game away early and spend the second half controlling pace.
For Atlanta (26-29), it’s another result that reflects inconsistency (LLWWL entering the game). The Hawks showed they could compete in stretches—winning the third quarter—but the first half left too steep a climb. Against teams that can score in bunches, Atlanta’s margin for error is thin when it falls behind early.
Final: Timberwolves 138, Hawks 116
Quarter scores: MIN 41-40-25-32 (138), ATL 34-22-31-29 (116)
Assists: MIN 36, ATL 20