Timberwolves-Hawks Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Jan 14 2012 12:40AM

The Atlanta Hawks are hoping injuries to some key players don't stop their recent run of success.

Facing the Minnesota Timberwolves also might help keep things headed in a positive direction.

The banged-up Hawks look to defeat the Timberwolves for an 11th straight time Saturday night in Atlanta.

Already dealing with day-to-day injuries to starting forward Marvin Williams (ankle) and key reserve Tracy McGrady (back), Atlanta (8-4) learned this week that All-Star forward Al Horford (12.4 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game) will miss at least three months with a torn pectoral muscle in his shoulder.

"That was very disappointing news," forward Josh Smith said.

Instead of feeling sorry for themselves, the Hawks blew out Charlotte 111-81 on Thursday in their first game without Horford. Smith had 30 points and 13 rebounds and Joe Johnson added 23 points with eight assists as the Hawks won for the fourth time in five games.

"We all understand that we have to step our games up in some respect," Johnson said. "It was a great team effort, collectively, around the room (Thursday). Everybody stepped up and did something to make an impact on the game. We're going to need that from here on out."

Six players scored in double figures for the Hawks, who are 4-1 at home, averaging 107.0 points in those contests.

"If we can just maintain until some of the other guys get back in there, I think we'll be OK," Smith said.

Smith has done his part, averaging 24.0 points in the last five games after putting up 11.7 per contest in his previous seven.

"He's playing big every night, it seems like," Johnson said. "He's got an edge, a chip on his shoulder."

Smith has averaged 23.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in his last three games versus Minnesota, which has dropped 10 in a row to the Hawks since an 84-83 home win April 9, 2006. The Timberwolves (4-7) are also mired in an eight-game skid at Atlanta that dates to a 103-93 victory Nov. 20, 2002.

Minnesota avoided a third straight defeat overall by winning 87-80 at New Orleans on Friday. Kevin Love had a season-high 34 points with 15 rebounds while Ricky Rubio added 12 points and nine assists, and hit the tiebreaking free throws in his first NBA start.

"My teammates expect me to go out there and perform," said Love, averaging 24.5 points and 14.7 rebounds per game. "Win, lose or draw, whether I'm having an off night or shooting 100 percent from the field, they are going to be with me."

In six career games against the Hawks, Love has scored more than 20 only once - 22 in a 111-105 loss at Atlanta on Nov. 14, 2010.

Rubio, the 21-year-old rookie from Spain, continues to get more comfortable in his new league while averaging 11.7 points and 9.3 assists over the last six contests.

The Timberwolves will again be without starting forward Michael Beasley (12.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg) because of a foot injury and key reserve J.J. Berea (11.4 ppg) due to an ankle problem.

Hawks rally from 18 down, beat Timberwolves 93-91

By GEORGE HENRY
Posted Jan 15 2012 12:43AM

ATLANTA (AP) Joe Johnson wasn't too concerned when Atlanta trailed Minnesota by 18 points late in the third quarter.

He could sense the Hawks were finally figuring out how to defend Kevin Love.

"We started focusing in on him and doubling him a lot more and trying to make it tough for him, but he's a load down there, man," Johnson said. "He did a great job of keeping them in the ballgame. He's a hell of a player."

Johnson scored 25 points, Ivan Johnson hit the clinching free throws with 4.6 seconds remaining and the Hawks rallied from 18 points down to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 93-91 on Saturday night.

Love missed a potential game-winning 3-point attempt at the buzzer, but finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota, which was trying to win consecutive road games for the first time since last Feb. 7-8 at New Orleans and Houston. The Timberwolves were coming off a seven-point victory Friday against the Hornets.

"It's my fourth year in the league, so I've had a lot of teams come back us, especially last year, so you never feel like a game is over no matter how far ahead you are," Love said. "'We started to shoot too many jump shots and didn't get the ball inside enough. Plus, it seemed like they hit every single shot down the stretch."

Jeff Teague added 20 points and 10 assists for the Hawks, who overcame a season-high 20 turnovers to win their second straight game after losing Al Horford to a torn pectoral muscle that will sideline the starting center for three to four months.

"Every game is not going to be perfect," Joe Johnson said. "You're going to have to win them ugly sometimes, and tonight was definitely an ugly game. I'm just glad we came out on top."

Rookie Ricky Rubio, starting his second game in the last two nights, had 18 points and 12 assists for Minnesota. With 3:40 left in the third quarter, Rubio's 12-foot runner from the left baseline gave the Timberwolves the game's biggest lead at 18.

Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman was nearly speechless after watching a fourth quarter in which his team was outscored 30-20, was outrebounded 12-8 and committed five turnovers to the Hawks' two.

There were five lead changes and the score was tied six times in the final period, but Minnesota never led after Love's two free throws made it 86-84 with 2:41 remaining.

"I don't have anything to say," Adelman said. "Our guys did everything they could to win that game and it just didn't happen. That's all I have to say."

Atlanta brought in Ivan Johnson and Jason Collins to contest Love inside and used a zone defense to close the passing lanes, helping the Hawks go on a 23-2 run. Teague's 3 capped the run with 8:48 remaining to put the Hawks up 76-73 and give them a lead for the first time since the game's first minute.

"It's our fault," Rubio said. "We just stopped running when they did that zone. We stopped scoring. When you are 18 up, you have to control the game. We have to learn about that. We didn't know how to offense that zone."

Ivan Johnson, a former NBA D-League standout, finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds while playing a season-high 25 minutes in Horford's absence.

"I just like to play defense," Ivan Johnson said. "I knew he couldn't put the ball on the floor too well, so just get up in him, make him put it on the floor, make him pass it so he can't score on me."

Love scored 30 points for the 12th time in his career and finished with a double-double for an NBA-leading 12th time, but the stoic Ivan Johnson didn't seem too impressed.

"My thing is don't really watch basketball so I don't know who anybody is," he said. "I know the main ones, like Kobe (Bryant), (Dwyane) Wade and LeBron (James). Even if I did (know Love), I wouldn't be afraid. We're playing basketball."

NOTES: Hawks F Marvin Williams returned to the lineup and had eight points and eight rebounds in 19 minutes. Williams missed the last three games with a sprained left ankle. "It's probably going to be sore in the morning, but I'll be in here getting treatment and be ready to go on Monday," Williams said. The Hawks host Toronto at 4 p.m. on Monday. ... Minnesota F Michael Beasley (right foot sprain) and reserve G Jose Barea (left ankle) did not make the two game road trip. ... Hawks reserve G Tracy McGrady missed his third straight game with back spasms. ... The Timberwolves will host Sacramento on Monday.

Notebook: Hawks 93, Timberwolves 91

By Matt Winkeljohn, for NBA.com
Posted Saturday January 14, 2012 10:47PM

THE FACTS: Still wonder if Ivan Johnson is for real? The well-traveled 27-year-old rookie forward made two free throws with four seconds left Saturday, and the sub's energy was critical as the Hawks staged a huge rally and then held on for a 93-91 win over the visiting Timberwolves.

Johnson scored four of his 10 points in the final 49 seconds and had eight of his 11 rebounds in the fourth quarter as Atlanta came back after trailing by 18 with 3:40 left in the third quarter. Joe Johnson led the Hawks with a season-high 25 points, and Jeff Teague added 20.

Kevin Love paced Minnesota with 30 points and 13 rebounds, and rookie point guard Ricky Rubio added 18 points, 12 assists and five steals in his second straight start.

The Hawks were listless for three-plus quarters, and Minnesota led 71-53 on Rubio's runner with 3:40 left in the third quarter.

Then, the Hawks scored the final 10 points of the period and began the fourth quarter with a 14-2 run. The lead changed hands five times in the fourth quarter, when there were six ties as well.

Minnesota tied it at 91 when Rubio slipped around a screen and nailed a three-pointer with 27 seconds left after Ivan Johnson's stick-back 11 seconds earlier had given the Hawks the lead.

Johnson, who played at two junior colleges, two colleges, in South Korea, China, Puerto Rico and the D-League previously, grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled by Luke Ridnour to set up his decisive free throws.

Hawks sub Willie Green scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter.

QUOTABLE: "I just though it was a really gutsy performance . . . particularly the guys that came off the bench, Ivan Johnson, Willie Green. Ivan is a guy that has no fear about playing, who's guarding him, or about making mistakes, and I like that about him. He makes mistakes, and we have to live with them, keep teaching him. In the long run, what he brings to the table is much more rewarding."
-- Hawks coach Larry Drew.

QUOTABLE II: "My thing is I don't really watch basketball so I don't know who anybody is and when I match up against them, it's just a regular player. I know the main players, like LeBron, Kobe and Wade, but all the extra ones I don't know. Even if I did [know], I wouldn't be afraid; we're playing basketball."
-- Ivan Johnson.

THE STAT: The Hawks commited a season-high 20 turnovers, but coughed it up just twice in the fourth quarter.

TURNING POINT: After Rubio's runner gave Minnesota that 71-53 lead in the fourth quarter, Drew subbed Ivan Johnson in for Josh Smith and put him on Love. In addition to out-scoring the Wolves 10-0 to close the quarter, Atlanta in that 3:40 had three steals and a blocked shot in that span as Minnesota missed all five shots.

QUOTABLE III: "We could have won this game, and it just didn't happen. That's all I have to say."
-- Minneosta coach Rick Adelman.

HOT: Green made 4-of-5 shots in the final quarter, including both his three-point tries. He's scored in double digits (10, 11 and 10 points) in each of the three games that leading bench scorer Tracy McGrady (back) has missed. . . . Ivan Johnson was perfect from the free throw line, making all eight of his attempts. . . . Joe Johnson has scored 23 and 25 points in Atlanta's past two games, both season highs. . . . Minnesota reserve guard Wayne Ellington tied his season high with 13 points on 6-for-9 shooting. He also had four rebounds.

NOT: Hawks reserve point guard Jannero Pargo has gone scoreless in Atlanta's past three games while playing 29:50. He had two assists in that time. . . . Wes Johnson made just 2-of-8 shots for Minnesota, and in the past two games he's 6-for-21. . . . Wolves starting center Darko Milicic was scoreless for the second time in three games. He's made one field goal and grabbed seven rebounds in that time.

GOOD MOVE: The Hawks went to a zone defense for much of the final quarter-plus, and Rubio said, "we couldn't knock down shots." Over a span of 9:12 covering the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth, the Timberwolves made one field goal, a 21-foot jumper by Rubio.

ROOKIE WATCH: Rubio's awareness of his surroundings is hard to describe. One of his more impressive plays was subtle. He drove the left baseline in the third quarter, and as he found himself under the basket he dropped a bounce pass almost backward and around an Atlanta defender for a teammate to easily dump in a basket. . . . For the third game in a row, Atlanta point guard Donald Sloan saw action, and had a rebound in 1:12. . . . Minnesota forward Derrick Williams played just 7:57 and scored once.

NOTABLE: A slew of players missed this game, including Minnesota's Michael Beasley (right foot sprain), J.J. Barea (left ankle), Brad Miller (left knee surgery), Martell Webster (back surgery) and Malcolm Lee (left knee surgery). For the Hawks, Horford, McGrady and Kirk Hinrich (shoulder) were out. . . . Minnesota's Nikola Pekovic, a 6-11 forward, scored for the first time this season. He made 3-of-4 shots and his only free throw for seven points. He also grabbed three rebounds in 17 minutes. . . . Rubio's five steals were the most by a Minnesota player this season.

UP NEXT: For the Timberwolves, Monday vs. Kings, Wednesday vs. Pistons, Friday @ Clippers. For the Hawks, Monday vs. Raptors, Wednesday vs. Blazers, Friday @ 76ers.

• Timberwolves: Miller, Webster
• Hawks: Hinrich, Horford

• Timberwolves: --
• Hawks: Smith

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Officials: #9 Derrick Stafford, #61 Courtney Kirkland, #72 J.T. Orr
• Attendance: 13135
• Duration: 2:05