Timberwolves 117, Hawks 107
ATLANTA -- The Minnesota Timberwolves held on to end the Atlanta Hawks' seven-game winning streak, and in the process, they stopped a stretch of futility that went back 13 years.
Guard Andrew Wiggins scored 33 points, including eight down the stretch, and the Timberwolves won 117-107 despite letting a 34-point lead temporarily slip away.
The Hawks (7-2) took a 107-106 lead on a basket by forward Paul Millsap, but Wiggins converted a three-point play with three minutes left and the Timberwolves (4-2) pulled back away from there.
The Timberwolves had lost 12 straight in Atlanta since recording a 103-93 victory on Nov. 20, 2002.
Forward Kevin Garnett, in his 21st season, played in that game, but more than a few of his present Minnesota teammates were in elementary school at the time. It looked as if the Timberwolves' inexperience might prove costly.
Minnesota led 81-47 before the Hawks closed the third quarter on a 37-12 run behind 14 points by guard Jeff Teague to pull within 93-84 going into the fourth. Atlanta then kept up the comeback.
Wiggins, though, pulled the Timberwolves through as they improved to 4-0 on the road.
The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year sank 15 of 22 shots and got support from rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Hawks, who scored 19 points off 10 Minnesota turnovers in the third-quarter rally, shot 72 percent in the third, with Teague going 6-for-8 and Millsap making all four of his shots.
Teague finished with 24 points and a team-high nine assists, and Millsap added 22 points.
For the game, Minnesota shot 57.5 percent and Atlanta hit 51.2 percent from the floor. The Wolves compiled a 40-27 rebounding advantage.
The Timberwolves shot 63.8 percent and beat the Hawks 22-11 on the boards while building a 72-42 halftime lead.
Wiggins made eight of 10 shots for 16 first-half points. Minnesota guard Zach LaVine had 13 points at the break and guard Kevin Martin had 11, missing only three shots between them.
The Hawks opened the game 1-for-9 and the Timberwolves were up 30-19 through the first quarter thanks to shooting 59.1 percent and forcing seven turnovers.
NOTES: G Kevin Martin, averaging a team-best 18.8 points off the bench, was back with the Timberwolves after missing Saturday's win in Chicago and three practices while attending to a family matter. ... G Tim Hardaway Jr. was on the Hawks' inactive list and hasn't played this season despite being healthy. He was acquired from the New York Knicks for a first-round draft choice after averaging 11.5 points last season. ... The Timberwolves, who began a stretch of four games in five days, host Charlotte on Tuesday to end their first back-to-back set. ... Minnesota has lost both of its home games. ... The Hawks play New Orleans on Wednesday in their third straight home game. ... Minnesota C Nikola Pekovic, who had Achilles surgery in April, has begun light running, but remains out indefinitely. ... G Titus Jones, a first-round draft pick out of Duke, was again inactive for the Timberwolves.