Edwards Powers Timberwolves to Dominant 138-116 Victory Over Short-Handed Hawks

Anthony Edwards scored 21 of his 30 points in the first half as the Minnesota Timberwolves used a dominant second quarter to cruise to a 138-116 win against the short-handed Atlanta Hawks on Monday night in Minneapolis. The commanding victory helped Minnesota bounce back after losing three of their previous four games.

Edwards led seven Minnesota players scoring in double figures, shooting 11-for-21 from the field in an efficient offensive display. Julius Randle contributed a triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, showcasing the Timberwolves' balanced attack. The home team scored 41 points in the first quarter and added 40 more in the second against a Hawks team that was outpaced from the opening tip.

Newcomer Ayo Dosunmu made an immediate impact in just his second game after being acquired in a trade from Chicago, scoring 21 points off the bench. The Timberwolves' offensive firepower proved too much for Atlanta, as Minnesota led by as many as 31 points during the blowout victory. The win was particularly satisfying after disappointing losses to New Orleans and the Los Angeles Clippers.

For the Hawks, Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 23 points and 12 rebounds against his former team, but Atlanta was severely undermanned. Jalen Johnson, the Hawks' top scorer, was a late addition to the injury report and did not play because of a knee injury, significantly impacting Atlanta's chances in the contest.

A game without much intensity changed early in the fourth quarter when Atlanta's Mouhamed Gueye appeared to trip up Wolves center Naz Reid. The two players came together in an altercation that included a crowd of people trying to break them up. Both Gueye and Reid were ejected from the game following the incident.

The Timberwolves improved their record with the victory, demonstrating the kind of offensive efficiency they'll need as the season progresses. With Edwards leading the way and multiple contributors stepping up, Minnesota showed they can dominate when clicking on all cylinders.