New Year’s Eve Statement: Hawks Roll Timberwolves to Close 2025

The Atlanta Hawks rang in the New Year with one of their most complete performances of the season, rolling past the Minnesota Timberwolves 126–102 on Wednesday night at State Farm Arena behind elite ball movement, paint dominance and another historic showing from Jalen Johnson.

Atlanta was sharp from the opening tip and never took its foot off the gas, delivering a wire-to-wire win that embodied its identity on both ends of the floor. The Hawks finished with 38 assists, marking their 23rd game this season with 30-or-more assists—the most by any team in the NBA and tied for the third-most such games in a single season in franchise history. Atlanta also controlled the interior from start to finish, winning the points-in-the-paint battle 64–36, a +28 margin that ties for its second-largest positive paint differential this season.

Jalen Johnson set the tone early and never let up. The fourth-year forward poured in a game-high 34 points on 15-of-22 shooting, adding 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block in just 32 minutes. The performance marked Johnson’s 23rd double-double of the season and 63rd of his career, while extending his double-double streak to 14 straight games—the longest by a Hawk since Kevin Willis’ 21-game run during the 1991–92 season. His 34 points also represented his sixth 30-point outing this season and the seventh 30-point game of his career.

Johnson’s December was one for the record books. He closed the month averaging 25.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 10.1 assists, becoming the first player in Hawks franchise history to average a triple-double over an entire month. At just 24 years old, he’s also the first player aged 24-or-younger to accomplish a 25-point triple-double month since Luka Dončić in January 2021. Johnson now joins elite company as only the seventh player in NBA history to average a 25-point triple-double in a single month, alongside Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, Nikola Jokić, Dončić, Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James.

Atlanta’s frontcourt depth continued to shine. Onyeka Okongwu delivered 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 27 minutes, logging his 30th double-figure scoring game of the season. With two makes from beyond the arc, Okongwu moved into fourth all-time among Hawks centers for most three-pointers in a single season, passing Mike Muscala.

The Hawks’ bench provided a steady lift throughout the night. Kristaps Porziņģis scored 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting in 17 minutes, knocking down his 975th career three-pointer and becoming just the 10th player in NBA history with at least 900 made three-pointers and 900 blocks. Luke Kennard added 15 points, six rebounds and five assists, recording his 10th double-figure scoring performance of the season.

Dyson Daniels filled up the stat sheet with 11 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks, marking his 22nd double-figure scoring game of the season and the 100th of his career. Postgame, Daniels emphasized the mindset the group wants to carry forward.

“We’re looking forward to more wins,” Daniels said. “We can sit here and preach defense, and we know that’s what’s going to win games. Taking that into the new year will be great.”

Nickeil Alexander-Walker chipped in 11 points, including three triples, and extended his career-long streak to 26 straight games with at least one made three-pointer, one of the longest active streaks in the league.

Minnesota was led by Anthony Edwards with 30 points, while Julius Randle added 19, but the Timberwolves were unable to match Atlanta’s pace, precision or unselfishness.

From start to finish, the Hawks were in control, building a double-digit lead in the first quarter, pushing their advantage to as many as 34 points, and closing out 2025 playing their brand of basketball—fast, physical and relentless.

It was a statement performance on New Year’s Eve and one that sets the tone as Atlanta turns the page to 2026.

Next up: The Hawks open the new year with a visit to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks on January 2, before returning home to State Farm Arena on January 7 to host the New Orleans Pelicans.