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Thursday, Dec. 28 8:00pm ET
Hawks' four-game streak over

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Anthony Peeler and the rest of the Minnesota Timberwolves' reserves were responsible for this victory.

Peeler scored 22 points as the Timberwolves rallied to beat the Atlanta Hawks 88-81 Thursday night, ending the Hawks' season-high four-game winning streak.

Minnesota's reserves outscored Atlanta's 39-13.

Minnesota trailed by as many as eight points in the third quarter, but outscored Atlanta 25-14 in the final 12 minutes to win its second game in a row.

"The big thing was our bench play and our energy," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said. "When the game was in doubt, they gave us some momentum and got the crowd into the game. That made the difference that allowed us to win."

The Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett added 21 points and 12 rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season.

Jason Terry led Atlanta with 31 points.

"Two nights ago, I was 6-for-22, and I knew that wouldn't hold up," Terry said.

Terry took control of the offense in the third quarter, scoring 13 points. But Minnesota held Terry without a point for the first eight minutes of the fourth and went on a 16-3 run to open up a six-point lead with six minutes to play.

Atlanta led 80-79 with under three minutes to play, when the Hawks were called for their second illegal defense of the game. Minnesota's Terrell Brandon hit a free throw to tie the game, sparking a 9-1 run to end the game.

"Minnesota made the plays down the stretch that created the difference," Atlanta coach Lon Kruger said. "I'm proud of our guys -- we were down six in a hostile place and they made the plays to get right back into it. But the last few possessions, the Wolves made the big plays."

Fueled by six points from Wally Szczerbiak in the first four minutes, Minnesota opened a 10-0 lead. Atlanta called a timeout, then tightened its defense and held Minnesota without a field goal for a stretch of nearly seven minutes.

"They outscored us 17-7 after that, so the early lead wasn't that important," Saunders said. "It was nice to see that energy right from the start, but in this league we know that big leads can evaporate very quick."

The opening quarter ended 17-17, with neither team shooting better than 39 percent from the field. The Hawks took their first lead early in the second quarter and held a one-point advantage at halftime.

Terry hit six of his seven first-half shots to lead Atlanta with 15 points at the break.

Dikembe Mutombo had 20 rebounds for Atlanta, the best individual rebounding performance against Minnesota this season.

"It's my job to go to the hole and rebound as much as I can," Mutombo said. "We played great, but we just lost the fight."

Game notes
After a collision with Mutombo in the second quarter, Minnesota guard Chauncey Billups left the game with a broken front tooth and cut lip. He received stitches and did not return to the game. ... Mutombo blocked a shot by LaPhonso Ellis in the final minute, giving Atlanta's center 2,500 blocks in the NBA. ... Atlanta is 0-4 on Thursdays this season.


ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Atlanta Clubhouse

Minnesota Clubhouse


RECAPS
Milwaukee 107
Cleveland 89

Boston 112
New Jersey 111

Orlando 102
Detroit 96

Dallas 105
LA Clippers 96

Minnesota 88
Atlanta 81

Portland 103
Utah 102

Chicago 105
San Antonio 104

Toronto 94
Denver 93

LA Lakers 115
Phoenix 78

Sacramento 91
Charlotte 87

FROM
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