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Millsap, Horford lead Hawks to 16th straight win

ATLANTA (AP) - Al Horford isn't missing many shots these days for the Atlanta Hawks.

Not that it would matter much if he did. The Hawks just keep winning.

"We always push each other to play hard," Horford said. "That's why I feel like this group is a little different when it comes to that."

Paul Millsap scored 20 points and Horford added 19 to help Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta to a 112-100 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night, extending the Hawks' franchise record with their 16th straight win.

Jeff Teague finished with 15 points and seven of Atlanta's 30 assists as the Hawks won for the 30th time in 32 games.

Thaddeus Young had 26 points and Mo Williams added 20 for Minnesota. The Timberwolves, who are last in the Western Conference, have lost four straight and 20 of 22.

The range of Horford, as a 6-foot-10 center-forward, is hurting opponents all over the court. He's hitting long jumpers, occasional 3-pointers and scoring around the basket to cause matchup problems.

Horford missed just one of nine field-goal attempts and is shooting nearly 74 percent and averaging 18 points over his last seven games.

"I have a good rhythm right now and I'm taking open shots," Horford said. "My teammates are setting me up. It's easy."

The Hawks took their first double-digit lead on Mike Scott's three-point play at the 9:31 mark of the second quarter, and their biggest advantage was 18 on a 3 by Millsap late in the second.

Minnesota trimmed the lead to eight several times in the second half before pulling within six twice on Andrew Wiggins' turnaround jumper and Young's putback in the closing minutes.

But DeMarre Carroll and Kyle Korver hit consecutive 3s to push lead back up to 12, and Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders called timeout with 2:08 remaining.

Saunders said everything he had heard and seen regarding the Hawks turned out be legitimate.

"Until you are there and you play against it, you don't really understand," Saunders said. "It took us almost a half to understand how good they really were. They're the best combination offensive and defensive team we've played. The second half we went out, we competed. That's all I can ask."

Young was pleased to get to play as a swingman, thus getting more freedom on offense, when Saunders used a bigger front line.

"It gives me an opportunity to see the floor, being on the wing," Young said. "You can see the guys cutting and see the whole floor so it's easier to make plays."

Korver and Carroll combined for 27 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Nikola Pekovic had 15 points and Wiggins added 12 for Minnesota.

Millsap went 8 for 12 from the field and finished with five rebounds, six assists, four steals and one turnover.

___

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: They outrebounded the Hawks by eight, but still lost for the 12th straight time in Atlanta.

Hawks: Atlanta, which began the day with the East's best home record, improved to 20-3 at Philips Arena. ... The Hawks broke their previous franchise mark with their 15th straight win Friday over Oklahoma City.

STILL BANGED UP

Saunders said after the game that G Robbie Hummel broke his hand in the third quarter and will miss the next four to six weeks. .. The Timberwolves, who are still without G Ricky Rubio and C Shabazz Muhammad, had hoped that G Kevin Martin might be ready to return, but the 11th-year guard missed his 33rd straight game while recovering from a broken wrist. Martin has averaged 17.9 points over 629 career games. ... Rookie G Zach LaVine (elbow) scored two points in 7 minutes. ... G Anthony Bennett (knee) was only able to play 12 seconds.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: At Oklahoma City on Monday.

Hawks: Host Brooklyn on Wednesday.

Atlanta Hawks' Jeff Teague, center, shoot against the defense of Minnesota Timberwolves' Robbie Hummel, left, and Andrew Wiggins, right, in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Atlanta Hawks' Al Horford, right, blocks the shot of Minnesota Timberwolves' Nikola Pekovic, of Montenegro, in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Atlanta Hawks' Paul Millsap, left, dribbles against Minnesota Timberwolves' Gorgui Dieng, of Senegal, in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. Millsap scored 20 points to lead Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta to a 112-100 victory over the Timberwolves on Sunday night, extending the Hawks' franchise record with their 16th straight win. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Minnesota Timberwolves' Andrew Wiggins (22) grabs a loose ball above Atlanta Hawks' Dennis Schroder, of Germany, in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Minnesota Timberwolves' Nikola Pekovic, of Montenegro, right, reaches for a ball against Atlanta Hawks' Pero Antic, of Macedonia, in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Atlanta Hawks' Paul Millsap smiles as he walks down the court after being called for an offensive foul in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. Millsap scored 20 points to lead Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta to a 112-100 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night, extending the Hawks' franchise record with their 16th straight win. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Atlanta Hawks' Jeff Teague, center, loses the ball as he's fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves' Gorgui Dieng, of Senegal, left, as teammate Robbie Hummel, right, helps out on defense in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford blocks a shot by Minnesota Timberwolves Nikola Pekovic during an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Curtis Compton) MARIETTA DAILY OUT; GWINNETT DAILY POST OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; WXIA-TV OUT; WGCL-TV OUT The Associated Press
Atlanta Hawks' DeMarre Carroll, right, shoots a 3-point basket over the reach of Minnesota Timberwolves' Andrew Wiggins in the final minutes of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. The Hawks won 112-100. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders, center, is called for a technical foul while players and coaches hold him back as he argues an official's call during a the NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Curtis Compton) MARIETTA DAILY OUT; GWINNETT DAILY POST OUT; LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; WXIA-TV OUT; WGCL-TV OUT The Associated Press
Atlanta Hawks' Kyle Korver, left, and Al Horford high-five Mike Muscala, right, after Korver hit a 3-pointer to seal the game during an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Curtis Compton) MARIETTA DAILY OUT; GWINNETT DAILY POST OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; WXIA-TV OUT; WGCL-TV OUT The Associated Press
The tattooed arms of Atlanta Hawks' Pero Antic, of Macedonia, first two on right, are seen reaching for ball against the tattooed arm of Minnesota Timberwolves' Nikola Pekovic, third from right, of Montenegro, during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. The Hawks beat the Timberwolves 112-100 to win their 16th game in a row. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Minnesota Timberwolves' Glenn Robinson III, center, puts up a layup to score against the defense of Atlanta Hawks' Paul Millsap, left, and Pero Antic, right of Macedonia, in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. The Hawks beat the Timberwolves 112-100 to win their 16th game in a row. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Minnesota Timberwolves' Thaddeus Young, right, goes up for a shot against Atlanta Hawks' Pero Antic, left, of Macedonia, and Paul Millsap during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. The Hawks beat the Timberwolves 112-100 to win their 16th game in a row. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Atlanta Hawks' Kyle Korver, left, high-fives teammate Mike Muscala, right, along with Al Horford, rear, after Korver hit a 3-point basket in the final minutes of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. The Hawks beat the Timberwolves 112-100 to win their 16th game in a row. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Minnesota Timberwolves' Mo Williams looks down the court in the final minutes of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. The Hawks defeated the Timberwolves 112-100 to win their 16th game in a row. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
Minnesota Timberwolves' Mo Williams shoots during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. The Hawks beat the Timberwolves 112-100 to win their 16th game in a row. The Timberwolves, who are last in the Western Conference, have lost four straight and 20 of 22. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The Associated Press
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