Game Preview #46 – Timberwolves vs. Hawks

The Timberwolves are coming off of their best game of the season, a throttling of the Denver Nuggets at Target Center. Can they keep the momentum going against the Hawks?

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Atlanta Hawks
Date: January 27th, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM CST
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM/Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Wolves Riding High After Denver Beatdown, Ready for Redemption Against Atlanta

Here’s the thing about being a Timberwolves fan: for every high, there’s usually a matching low lurking right around the corner. But let’s take a moment to bask in the glow of Saturday’s absolute throttling of the Denver Nuggets—because that win? That was art. That was the Mona Lisa of Wolves games this season.

Minnesota didn’t just beat Denver; they sent them back to Colorado questioning life choices. A 40-point first quarter set the tone, and the Wolves never looked back. It was one of those games where everything clicked. They hounded Nikola Jokic (or as much as you can “hound” someone averaging a triple-double) and held him to a quiet-for-him 20 points. They dominated the glass, swarmed defensively, and refused to let Denver find any rhythm from beyond the arc.

Anthony Edwards? He was aggressive, mixing slashes to the rim with his usual smooth three-point shooting, including a logo bomb that had Target Center buzzing. Oh, and did I mention that shot made him the franchise leader in career threes? It was the exclamation point on a masterpiece of an afternoon.

But—and here’s where that classic Wolves skepticism creeps in—the biggest test isn’t how you handle the highs. It’s what you do next. Can this team build on its momentum, or will they follow up with a classic letdown? The Atlanta Hawks come to Target Center on Monday, and while they’re not exactly world-beaters, this is exactly the kind of game Minnesota has to take seriously if they want to prove they’re turning a corner.

Flashback: A December Dud in Atlanta

The last time these two teams met, it wasn’t pretty for the Wolves. Anthony Edwards’ much-anticipated pre-Christmas homecoming in Atlanta ended with a lump of coal. Minnesota dug themselves into one of their infamous early-game holes, clawed back to make it respectable by halftime, but ultimately couldn’t seal the deal.

This time, they’ve got a chance for revenge—and to keep their modest two-game win streak alive.

Keys to the Game

1. Dominate the Paint

The Wolves have an obvious size advantage, and they need to exploit it. Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid should own the paint against Atlanta’s smaller lineup. That means controlling the boards, protecting the rim, and limiting second-chance opportunities for the Hawks. If the Wolves can impose their will down low, Atlanta will struggle to keep pace.

2. Keep Ant on the Attack

Anthony Edwards has been on another level lately, but he’s at his best when he mixes up his offensive arsenal. His three-point shot has been deadly, but when he adds drives to the hoop and mid-range jumpers to the mix, he becomes almost unguardable. Against Denver, we saw Edwards blend all those elements beautifully. The Wolves need more of that against Atlanta to keep defenders guessing.

3. Get Julius Randle Going

Let’s talk about Julius Randle. He’s quietly adjusted his game, becoming more of a facilitator and less of a ball-dominant black hole. That’s great. But the Wolves also need him to rediscover his scoring touch—especially from beyond the arc, where he’s been abysmal. Either he starts hitting threes again, or he should avoid them entirely and focus on dominating in the post and around the rim.

Randle’s hustle plays—grabbing offensive boards, finishing putbacks—have been huge, but if he can find his offensive rhythm, it’ll open up the floor for everyone else.

4. Limit Atlanta’s Barrage from Deep

The Hawks are streaky, but when they’re hot from three, they’re deadly. Trae Young can light it up if given space. Minnesota’s defense needs to close out hard on shooters, rotate quickly, and make Atlanta work for every bucket.

We saw the Wolves execute this kind of defensive intensity against Denver, and the result was a frustrated Nuggets team that couldn’t find a foothold. More of the same will be critical.

5. Avoid the Dreaded Drought

The scoring drought. If you’re a Wolves fan, you know it too well. One minute, the offense is humming. The next, it’s like everyone forgot how to play basketball. These lapses have cost Minnesota countless games this season.

Against Denver, they played a full 48 minutes of cohesive, unselfish basketball. They need to replicate that effort—no five-minute stretches of aimless dribbling and bricked shots.

Looking Ahead

This game kicks off a crucial stretch for the Wolves. After Atlanta, they’ve got matchups against Phoenix, Utah, and Washington. None of those teams are juggernauts, but this is the Wolves we’re talking about—no game is a gimme.

If Minnesota can string together wins against this slate of beatable opponents, they’ll climb the Western Conference standings and put themselves in a strong position heading into February. But it all starts with taking care of business against the Hawks.

Final Thoughts

Saturday’s beatdown of Denver was a reminder of just how good this team can be. But consistency has been the Wolves’ Achilles’ heel all season. Can they build on this momentum, or will we see another head-scratching performance against an inferior opponent?

The talent is there. The blueprint is clear. Now it’s up to Minnesota to show they can sustain the effort and focus that made Saturday such a joy to watch.

Let’s see if they can keep the good vibes rolling—or if the Wolves will leave us shaking our heads once again.