How could the Wolves lose this game? Because after 24 minutes, they had marched on the Hawks.
Both teams started the game with great skill. Minnesota manages to offer a lot of open shots, Naz Reid even hits three times from 3-point range in the first quarter. Atlanta responds but comes across an Anthony Edwards in great form. Impressive one-on-one, he scored 14 points in this pleasant first act, dominated by him and his teammates (35-42).
In the second quarter, it was Rudy Gobert who showed up. The bad part is that he complains and the referees penalize him with a technical foul. They also target him when he hangs on the circle for too long. The good side is that with his energy, the Wolves continue to drive the point home. The gap is constantly increasing: +14, +18, +21…
The ball is circulating, there are shifts and no one is forcing. A perfect first half, with a huge 12/18 at 3-points and only two lost balls (60-79).
Dejounte Murray plays his symphony to break that of the Wolves
After the break, the success of Wolves necessarily drops a tone. They lose more balls and above all, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards sometimes start to force. Dejounte Murray takes the right shots and makes three baskets in a row. At the end of the third quarter, he completed a 12-2 Atlanta lead with five points. Everything has to be done again for Chris Finch’s men (98 all) at the start of the last quarter.
The dynamic has completely changed sides. Trae Young adds his touch and the Hawks go 9-0 to start this last act. The Wolves are on the ropes. Anthony Edwards multiplies his efforts, one-on-one sequences and baskets to keep his team alive, except that he also loses balls.
The Hawks turn them into counterattacks and Jalen Johnson can put on a show. Dejounte Murray goes up to 41 points (tied personal record) and Atlanta wins 127-113. A victory far from being written at the break.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Minnesota falls back into its ways. Although they were obviously not going to ride such a success throughout the game, the Wolves still showed a much less sharp face in the second half. Anthony Edwards’ talent allows him to save the furniture when he pushes, but Karl-Anthony Towns has not yet entered his season. Sober and efficient in the first half, the interior sank in the second with a terrible 1/9 shooting. The fluidity of the first period disappeared little by little and the Wolves sank against the Hawks who experienced the opposite trend.
– The reaction of the Hawks. Dejounte Murray obviously had a lot to do with it, but Atlanta did not give up. It’s probably easier to do against a team like Minnesota, which is crumbly, but we had to continue to make baskets to exist. In addition, the Hawks’ defense went up a notch after the break and that’s what allowed Murray’s hot shot to bear fruit and put on a show in the last quarter.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
