Hawks at Timberwolves
Derrick Rose played just 25 games last season, but the former MVP is healthy and flourishing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. In 31 games this season Rose is averaging 18.7 points on 48.9 percent shooting from the field in nearly 30 minutes per game, including an emotional 24-point, eight-assist outing in a victory Wednesday against his former team, the Chicago Bulls.
“It made me reminisce about some of the old days,” Rose told reporters after the Chicago crowd serenaded him with 'MVP' chants during Minnesota’s 119-94 victory. “With the year I’m having, it’s very special to come back here and play.” The Timberwolves have won three of their past five games and are 9-7 in their past 16 contests. That is the same number of victories Atlanta has recorded all season, but the Hawks have played better of late, winning three games in a row before Indiana pulled away down the stretch Wednesday in a 129-121 home defeat. “We came up a little short, just the small things that get you over the hump,” Atlanta forward Kent Bazemore told the media after matching his career high with 32 points. “We’re learning. We’re growing.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (9-24): Forward John Collins, whose status was questionable due to a left ankle sprain, recorded his ninth double-double in his past 10 games with 21 points and 11 rebounds against the Pacers. Bazemore hit a career-high 14 shots from the field and extended his streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 11 games. Center Dewayne Dedmon grabbed a season-best 15 rebounds and scored 18 points, and across his past seven games is 12-for-24 from 3-point range.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (16-18): Rose returned to the lineup after a one-game absence due to a sore left ankle, finishing 11-for-19 from the field. Center Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 points with 20 rebounds against Chicago and enters Friday leading Minnesota in scoring (20.9) and rebounding (11.6) per contest. Guard Anthony Wiggins is averaging 19.2 points in his 12 December starts.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Towns’ big night Wednesday gave him his eighth career 20-point, 20-rebound performance and his 202nd career double-double.
2. Minnesota G Jeff Teague has missed five consecutive games with a left ankle injury.
3. Atlanta is 4-14 on the road this season, 0-6 against Western Conference foes.