GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: ATLANTA (4-7) at MINNESOTA (1-9)

NBA: ATLANTA (4-7) at MINNESOTA (1-9)

<h3>Timberwolves search for second win vs. Hawks</h3>

<div class="pre">Atlanta (4-7) at Minnesota (1-9) 8:00 pm EST</div>

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves will belooking for just their second win of the season when they hostthe Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.


After the blockbuster trade this summer that sent franchise iconKevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics and yielded them five newplayers, the Timberwolves have struggled to find the right mixin the early going.


Coach Randy Wittman has been juggling the starting lineup on agame-to-game basis looking for the matchups that will yield thebest results in the future, but the present has been ratherugly.


Minnesota dropped a 99-93 decision at Denver on Friday to fallfor the fourth straight game. Rashad McCants, who began theseason as the starting shooting guard, came off the bench andwent just 1-for-15 from the floor and totaled five points.

The Hawks have managed to begin the season better than theTimberwolves, but not by much. They snapped a three-game losingstreak on Wednesday at Miami, notching their first win awayfrom home this season.


Joe Johnson leads Atlanta in scoring at 22.6 points per game,and fourth-year forward Josh Smith continues to improve,averaging 18.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and two stealsper game.


The Timberwolves won both meetings between the teams lastseason.

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">ATLANTA AT MINNESOTA - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


ATLANTA MINNESOTA

F Marvin Williams F Ryan Gomes
F Josh Smith F Al Jefferson
C Zaza Pachulia C Mark Madsen
G Anthony Johnson G Rashad McCants
G Joe Johnson G Marko Jaric

OFFICIALS: Steve Javie
Derek Richardson
Brian Forte</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">ATLANTA VS MINNESOTA - INACTIVES

ATLANTA MINNESOTA

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
L WRIGHT HAMSTRING INJURY T RATLIFF RIGHT KNEE INJURY
S CLAXTON LEFT KNEE INJURY M DOLEAC COACH'S DECISION
A LAW SPRAINED LEFT ANKLE R FOYE LEFT KNEE INJURY</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">ATLANTA AT MINNESOTA - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS

REVISED LINEUPS

ATLANTA MINNESOTA

F Josh Smith F Ryan Gomes
F Marvin Williams F Al Jefferson
C Al Horford C Mark Madsen
G Anthony Johnson G Rashad McCants
G Joe Johnson G Marko Jaric

OFFICIALS: Steve Javie
Derek Richardson
Brian Forte</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 4
MINNESOTA 6 8:40 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 6
MINNESOTA 12 6:12 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 10
MINNESOTA 22 2:40 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 17
MINNESOTA 28 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 17 17
MINNESOTA 28 28 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

ATL - JOSH CHILDRESS 4, SHELDEN WILLIAMS 4,
ANTHONY JOHNSON 2
MIN - AL JEFFERSON 10, MARKO JARIC 8, RASHAD
MCCANTS 4</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 23
MINNESOTA 41 8:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 32
MINNESOTA 50 5:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 40
MINNESOTA 55 2:58 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 45
MINNESOTA 63 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 17 28 45
MINNESOTA 28 35 63 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

ATL - JOE JOHNSON 16, JOSH CHILDRESS 8, JOSH
SMITH 6
MIN - AL JEFFERSON 18, ANTOINE WALKER 12,
MARKO JARIC 8</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 47
MINNESOTA 65 8:56 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 51
MINNESOTA 67 5:50 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 64
MINNESOTA 75 2:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 64
MINNESOTA 75 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 17 28 19 64
MINNESOTA 28 35 12 75 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

ATL - JOE JOHNSON 16, JOSH CHILDRESS 12,
MARVIN WILLIAMS 10
MIN - AL JEFFERSON 22, MARKO JARIC 14, ANTOINE
WALKER 12</div>

 

NBA: ATLANTA at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 71
MINNESOTA 77 9:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>