Jalen Johnson excels as Hawks defeat Timberwolves

Jalen Johnson and Kristaps Porzingis both returned to the lineup and led the Atlanta Hawks to a 126-102 win over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday to end their seven-game losing streak.

The Hawks, who never trailed, had not won a game since Dec. 14 and ended a five-game homecourt losing streak. It was their third straight win over the Timberwolves in Atlanta. Minnesota has lost three of its last four.

Johnson, who missed Monday's game with an illness, had 34 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and extended his streak of double-doubles to 14 straight games.

Porzingis had missed 10 straight games with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), an incurable but manageable condition that causes increased heart rate, dizziness and fatigue. He came off the bench to score 16 points, 13 in the first half, in 17-plus minutes.

Atlanta also got 17 points and eight rebounds from Onyeka Okongwu and 15 points and six rebounds from Luke Kennard.

Minnesota was led by Anthony Edwards with 30 points, 24 of them coming in the first half, with five rebounds and two blocked shots. But Edwards tossed a towel in frustration and walked out of a timeout huddle and into the locker room with 7:52 remaining.

Julius Randle added 19 points and seven rebounds.

The Hawks played without Trae Young, who missed his second straight game with a right quad contusion.

The Hawks made five 3-pointers to take a 33-27 lead after the first quarter. They continued to push the lead forward and led by 27 when Okongwu drained a 3-pointer to make it 70-43 with 1:33 left. Atlanta had a 70-49 lead at intermission, its second straight game with at least 70 first-half points.

Minnesota began to chip away in the third quarter and got as close as 14 on a 3-pointer from Donte DiVincenzo with 8:44 left. But the Hawks responded by outscoring the Timberwolves the remainder of the quarter and took a 98-73 into the fourth quarter.

--Field Level Media