Shorthanded Hawks Can’t Recover From Second Quarter Burst

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 09: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks dribbles the ball against Jaden McDaniels #3 and Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center on February 09, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Hawks 138-116. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

One decisive quarter proved too much for the Atlanta Hawks to overcome.

The Hawks surrendered 40 points in the second quarter and never fully recovered in a 138–116 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night at Target Center.

Atlanta was shorthanded, as Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels were both ruled out before tipoff. Johnson missed the game due to left knee inflammation after being listed as questionable on the injury report. The Hawks opted to sit him as a precaution in the second game of a back-to-back road set.

Daniels was also held out with right ankle inflammation after being listed as questionable earlier in the day, as the team chose to prioritize his recovery.

Despite the absences, the Hawks showed early fight, trading baskets with Minnesota in an up-tempo first quarter and trailing by just seven points.

The game swung decisively in the second quarter, however, as Minnesota capitalized on defensive breakdowns, pushed the pace and found open lanes to the basket. The Timberwolves shot efficiently and used crisp ball movement to stretch the margin to double digits by halftime.

Atlanta showed resilience coming out of the break, trimming the deficit in the third quarter behind improved ball movement and shot-making. But the Hawks were unable to string together enough defensive stops to seriously threaten Minnesota down the stretch, as each run was quickly answered.

The Hawks were led offensively by CJ McCollum, who finished with a game-high 38 points and kept Atlanta afloat even as the deficit grew. Nickeil Alexander-Walker turned in a strong all-around performance with 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Onyeka Okongwu added 14 points and five rebounds, while Corey Kispert and Jock Landale each scored 12 points.

For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards led the way with 30 points, consistently breaking down Atlanta’s defense. Julius Randle recorded a triple-double, and Rudy Gobert was perfect from the field, anchoring the paint on both ends as the Timberwolves controlled the game.

The loss dropped Atlanta to 26–29 on the season and underscored the challenge of sustaining defensive intensity against elite Western Conference teams.

While the Hawks’ offense continues to show it can score with anyone, turning games like this into wins will require consistent defensive effort over full quarters, not just brief stretches.