MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Joe Johnson had 29 points Wednesday night as the Atlanta Hawks got their first win in Minnesota in nearly 10 years, a 105-88 victory over the Timberwolves.
Atlanta hadn't won in Minnesota since April 1997, going 0-8 in the interim before Wednesday night's game. The game wasn't as close as the final 17-point margin, as the Timberwolves scored the final nine points of the contest.
Johnson had 13 points in the first quarter, and hit back-to-back three-point shots to fire a 10-0 run that gave the Hawks a 45-30 lead midway through the second quarter. He had another three-pointer that set off a 16-7 spurt that turned into a 72-52 Atlanta advantage with 6:30 left in the third period.
Josh Smith scored 21 points for Atlanta, which won its third straight overall.
Minnesota, which saw a three-game winning streak end, got 16 points and 11 rebounds from Mark Blount. Kevin Garnett was one of three Timberwolves who finished with 13 points.
