Rudy Gobert's big night lifts Timberwolves past Hawks and into a first-place tie in the West

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rudy Gobert had 25 points, 19 rebounds and five blocks to help the Minnesota Timberwolves defeat the Atlanta Hawks 109-106 on Friday night and move into a three-way tie for first place in the Western Conference.

Minnesota is even with Denver and Oklahoma City atop the conference with one game to play. The Timberwolves hold head-to-head tiebreakers over both teams, but the Thunder would win a three-way tiebreaker for the top spot.

Naz Reid had 19 points, Anthony Edwards scored 14 and Mike Conley added 13 points and 10 assists for the Timberwolves, who welcomed back All-Star forward Karl-Anthony Towns, who had 11 points after missing 18 games following surgery to repair a damaged meniscus in his left knee.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, pushes Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert while they pursue the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Trae Young led Atlanta with 19 points in 27 minutes, his second game back after missing six weeks with a hand injury. Bogdon Bogdonović had 17 points and Clint Capela added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawks.

Atlanta is locked into the No. 10 seed in the East and will face Chicago in the play-in tournament.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, front left, is fouled by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Gobert went 10 for 10 from the field, including eight dunks, and scored 10 points in the fourth quarter as the Wolves recovered from blowing a 17-point third-quarter lead.

Towns hit a 3-pointer with 2:29 to play to give Minnesota a 101-100 lead, and Edwards added six points down the stretch as the Timberwolves held on.

Minnesota led by nine at halftime and pushed its lead to 76-59 midway through the third quarter. But the Timberwolves then went almost five minutes without scoring, allowing the Hawks to score 14 straight points, part of a 21-4 run that tied the score 80-80 heading into the fourth.

The game also marked the return of Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, who haven’t attended a Timberwolves game since their bid to become majority owners apparently fell through on March 28. The duo sat across the court from Glen Taylor, the team’s longtime majority owner who said Rodriguez and Lore missed a deadline to transfer ownership, which the two dispute.

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UP NEXT

Hawks: At Indiana on Sunday.

Timberwolves: Host Phoenix on Sunday.

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Minnesota Timberwolves centers Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid, from left, watch from the bench late in the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun, left, drives to the basket for a dunk as Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, right, and forward Jaden McDaniels, front, defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, right, drives past Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) works to keep the ball away from Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 12, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, right, shoots after being fouled by Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye (18) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 12, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)