ATLANTA (AP) — Clint Capela had 23 points and 15 rebounds, De’Andre Hunter scored 25 and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-97 on Monday.
The Hawks, wearing black, tan and white uniforms with “MLK” sewn across the chest to commemorate the national holiday honoring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., snapped a two-game skid. They had dropped six of seven.
“It’s really cool in the city of Atlanta, it’s big, especially to get a win today,” Hunter said. “MLK meant so much to the Black community and for the world in general. To be able to come out here and compete and wear those three letters on our chest, to come out and get the win is big.”
Trae Young had 20 points and 13 assists for Atlanta, which took its biggest lead, 15 points, on consecutive 3s from the right side by Kevin Huerter and Hunter with 5:59 remaining. The Timberwolves pulled within six before Young’s runner made it 100-92 with 2:01 left.
Capela’s left-handed hook pushed the lead to 102-94, and Young sealed it with a pair of free throws to make it 104-94 with 33.2 seconds to go.
Capela, who is from Switzerland, said the victory was dedicated to King.
“It means so much, especially here at home,” Capela said. “It was important for us to get this win. Last year was a tough year where I learned a lot by being a Black man in this country.”
D’Angelo Russell finished with 31 points for Minnesota, which has lost nine of 10. The Timberwolves wiped out a 13-point lead to force a 58-all tie on Naz Reid’s basket underneath, but were soon back down by 10 on Hunter’s 3-pointer with 7:23 left in the third.
The Wolves arrived several hours late in Atlanta on Saturday night so that coronavirus tests could be processed to ensure Minnesota, which had its Friday game postponed, would have enough players able to take the floor.
“We have to adjust,” said Malik Beasley, who scored 15 points. “Everybody in the league is adjusting. We don’t have any excuses for that. We’ve got to be better.”
The Hawks, who overcame 24 turnovers, took their first lead at 13-11 on a pair of free throws by Young, who threw an arching alley-oop pass on the next possession to Collins for a dunk. Atlanta took its first double-digit lead midway through the second quarter when Young connected on another alley-oop, this time to Huerter.
John Collins had 15 points and a career-high five blocks for the Hawks.
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: Were without Karl-Anthony Towns, Ricky Rubio and Juancho Hernangomez because of COVID-19 protocols. Minnesota’s game Friday against Memphis was postponed when Towns, who averages a team-high 22 points, revealed he tested positive for the coronavirus.
Hawks: Were without Cam Reddish (knee), Danilo Gallinari (ankle), Kris Dunn (ankle) and Bogdan Bodganovic (knee). … Coach Lloyd Pierce said Reddish and Gallinari could be back later this week. … Are 17-9 in Atlanta on the King holiday. Atlanta was King’s hometown.
SPECIAL DAY
The Hawks further commemorated the King holiday by painting the logo at half court as a mosaic to resemble the stained glass of a church. “In designing the court, we wanted to come up with something that brought all of the concepts together, that spoke unity, freedom, diversity, inclusion — everything that Dr. King fought and spoke for,” said Shirley Zhang, a Hawks vice president. “It’s bringing people together from all walks of life. That’s what the colors really represent.”… The Hawks will wear the same uniforms and have the same half-court logo nine more times this season. … There were several hundred fans in the crowd, which was limited to prevent the spread of the virus.
BACK HOME
Minnesota rookie Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 overall draft pick, scores 12 points in 30 minutes. Edwards spent one season at Georgia after starring at Holy Spirit Prep School in nearby Sandy Springs. … Josh Okogie, who starred for two seasons at Georgia Tech and graduated from Shiloh High in nearby Snellville, had four points in 22 minutes.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Host Orlando on Wednesday.
Hawks: Host Detroit on Wednesday.
TOP PHOTO: Members of the Atlanta Hawks wear shirts commemorating MLK Day prior to an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
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