Horford, Pargo help Hawks rally past Minnesota

[January 22, 2013]  ATLANTA, Ga.(AP) -- Al Horford scored a season-high 28 points, Jannero Pargo had 16 and the Atlanta Hawks snapped a two-game slide with a 104-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.

Derrick Williams finished with 17 points and Jose Barea had 14 for Minnesota, which lost for the sixth time in seven games after blowing an 18-point lead in the second quarter.

Injuries at guard forced the Hawks to sign Pargo to a 10-day contract earlier Monday, and he did not disappoint.

The 33-year-old, nine-year NBA journeyman hit a 3-pointer from the left corner with 5:26 remaining to give the Hawks their first lead since the 9:40 mark of the first quarter.

Horford pulled down 10 rebounds, and Jeff Teague handed out 10 assists with nine points to help the Hawks win for the third time in 11 games.

Atlanta's depth problems at guard are substantial with Lou Williams sidelined for the rest of the season because of a torn knee ligament, Devin Harris nursing a sprained left ankle and DeShawn Stevenson and Anthony Morrow held out again on Monday.

Pargo, who played 50 games for Atlanta last season and seven with Washington this season, played 25 minutes as rookie John Jenkins failed to score after making his first career start.

Minnesota took its biggest lead at 18 points on Andrei Kirilenko's three-point play at the 4:49 mark of the second quarter, but the Hawks went on a 35-17 run that ended on Mike Scott's dunk to force a 69-69 tie at the 3:18 of the third.

Kyle Korver added 14 points, Anthony Tolliver 11 and Josh Smith 10 for Atlanta.

Kirilenko and Dante Cunningham each scored 13 points, and Greg Stiemsma added 11 for the Timberwolves.

Minnesota was without forward Kevin Love (hand), center Nikola Pekovic (thigh) and guard Alexey Shved (ankle). Cunningham was a game-time decision because he had the flu.

The Hawks outscored Minnesota 60-38 in the second half, shooting 23 for 31 from the field.

NOTES: Terry Porter, filling in while Rick Adelman cares for his sick wife, dropped to 2-6 as Minnesota's interim head coach. ... Atlanta tied a season high by shooting 57.7 percent from the field. ... The Timberwolves have lost five straight on the road and are 6-15 away from home.

[Associated Press; By GEORGE HENRY]

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