Timberwolves Aim to Rebound Against Hawks Before All-Star Break

Minnesota looks to snap 3-game skid as it hosts Atlanta in final pre-break matchup

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The Minnesota Timberwolves are hoping to bounce back from a recent slump when they host the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, with just two games remaining before the NBA All-Star break. The Timberwolves are coming off a 115-96 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, marking their third defeat in the past four games. Minnesota's top scorer Anthony Edwards said the team's latest loss was not due to a lack of effort, but rather an inability to score. The Hawks, led by Jalen Johnson's 23.4 points per game, have won two of their last three contests but are coming off a home loss to the Charlotte Hornets.

Why it matters

The Timberwolves are looking to regain their footing before the All-Star break, as they aim to solidify their position in the Western Conference playoff race. A win over the Hawks could provide a much-needed confidence boost for Minnesota, which has struggled with consistency in recent weeks. For Atlanta, this game represents an opportunity to pick up a road victory against a fellow playoff contender.

The details

The Timberwolves will be trying to bounce back from a 115-96 loss to the Clippers on Sunday, in which they struggled to generate offense. Coach Chris Finch emphasized the need for better ball movement and more players to get involved in the offense. Meanwhile, the Hawks are led by Jalen Johnson, who is averaging 23.4 points per game on 50.2% shooting. Johnson said he looks to be aggressive when the time is right, even if his shots aren't falling early.

  • The Timberwolves and Hawks will face off on Monday, February 9, 2026.
  • This is the second and final regular-season meeting between the two teams, with the Hawks winning the first matchup 126-102 on December 31, 2025.

The players

Anthony Edwards

The Timberwolves' leading scorer, averaging 29.8 points per game.

Jalen Johnson

The Hawks' top scorer, averaging 23.4 points per game on 50.2% shooting.

Chris Finch

The Timberwolves' head coach, who emphasized the need for better ball movement and more players to get involved in the offense.

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What they’re saying

“I felt like we had good energy (Sunday). I felt like the offense just wasn't going for us, especially for myself. I have nothing to say about our defense. I thought we did a pretty good job (against the Clippers), it's just, we couldn't score the ball.”

— Anthony Edwards (cbssports.com)

“I might miss my first couple shots in the game, and other guys might have it going, so that opens up for me to play-make. Obviously, when the time is right, I pick my spots. I'll be aggressive when I need to be, and that approach has helped me to stay even keel when I'm not shooting the ball well to start the game.”

— Jalen Johnson (cbssports.com)

“We've got to get our offense going. We had a lot of turnovers (Sunday). We've got to get some kind of rhythm and speed to our offense. Guys are kind of not getting included in the offense enough. I think we get some connectivity from that. We don't have a great spirit about us right now; we've got to pick it up. Try to finish these last two games strong before the break.”

— Chris Finch, Timberwolves Head Coach (cbssports.com)

What’s next

The Timberwolves and Hawks will face off one more time this season, with the game taking place after the All-Star break.

The takeaway

This game represents an important opportunity for the Timberwolves to regain their footing and build momentum heading into the second half of the season. If Minnesota can find a way to get its offense clicking and play with more energy on the defensive end, it could provide a much-needed confidence boost as the team looks to solidify its playoff position.