The Minnesota Timberwolves face the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, December 31, with tipoff at 3:00 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena. Minnesota enters with a 21-12 record and a one-game winning streak after a 136-101 victory over Chicago, while Atlanta extends a seven-game losing skid following a 129-140 loss to Oklahoma City.
Minnesota will be without Terrence Shannon Jr. (left foot abductor hallucis strain) and G League two-way player Rocco Zikarsky. Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle are expected to carry the scoring load, combining for 51.5 points per game, while Rudy Gobert anchors the paint with 11.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per contest.
Atlanta’s injury situation includes N’Faly Dante (right ACL) and Eli John Ndiaye (G League two-way) ruled out, while Trae Young (right quad contusion), Caleb Houstan (G League two-way), and Nikola Djurisic (G League assignment) are listed as questionable. Young averages 19.3 points and 8.9 assists in 28 minutes per game, highlighting his importance for Atlanta’s offense.
Minnesota’s supporting cast, including Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo, provides perimeter shooting and secondary scoring. McDaniels is hitting 41% from three, while Naz Reid contributes 14.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, giving the Timberwolves versatility in both frontcourt and backcourt rotations.
Atlanta relies on Jalen Johnson, who leads the team with 23.7 points and 8.4 assists per game, alongside Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 20.6 points. Kristaps Porzingis adds frontcourt scoring with 19.2 points per game, but the Hawks’ seven-game slide underscores the need for healthier rotations to compete against a deep Timberwolves lineup.
