The Dallas Mavericks returned to downtown Dallas to host the Minnesota Timberwolves in a one-game tilt on Wednesday night. The Timberwolves held on for a 115-114 win over the Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Minnesota improved to 23-21 and snapped a two-game losing skid, while Dallas fell to 23-21 and lost its second straight game.
Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 38 points, five rebounds, and eight assists. PJ Washington Jr. followed up with 28 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Daniel Gafford added 14 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists. Maxi Kleber had 10 points, two rebounds, and one assist. Spencer Dinwiddie scored nine points, three rebounds, and one assist. Quentin Grimes recorded five points, three rebounds, and three assists.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Recap
The Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game was exciting amid the injuries. The Mavericks ruled out Luka Doncic with a left calf strain, Dereck Lively II with a right ankle stress fracture, Dwight Powell with a right hip strain, Jaden Hardy with a right ankle sprain, and Dante Exum with right wrist surgery. The Timberwolves ruled out Donte DiVincenzo with a left toe sprain and Terrance Shannon Jr. with a right mid-foot sprain.
The Mavericks’ starting lineup featured Kyrie Irving, Quentin Grimes, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, PJ Washington Jr., and Daniel Gafford. According to Sports Illustrated, Daniel Gafford believes Irving hasn’t been getting a fair whistle. Gafford recently told reporters that he wished they’d give Irving a couple more calls under the basket, and Irving’s one of the 24 qualifying players averaging at least 23 points per game this season.
The Mavericks jumped to a 2-0 lead to open the first-quarter scoring, but the Timberwolves tied the game 2-2. Irving made a basket at 7:17 to eclipse 18,000 career points and became the eighth player in NBA history to reach the milestone. The Timberwolves’ defense slowed down the Mavericks’ scoring, but the Mavericks tied the game 17-17 and took a 22-17 lead at the end of the first.
The second quarter resembled the first-quarter scoring but shifted in favor of the Timberwolves. Irving’s dominance continued in the second-quarter scoring, while Spencer Dinwiddie’s buckets wowed the home crowd. The Timberwolves took a 42-38 lead with 5:03 left, but the Mavericks kept the game close and in the single digits. The Timberwolves brought a 55-53 lead to the locker room to end the first half.
The third quarter slightly favored the Timberwolves, so it’s unclear if the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner and Colorado Buffaloes cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter enjoyed the game from his courtside seats. Jaden McDaniels’ block led to Anthony Edwards’ dunk with 4:58 left. The Timberwolves settled for an 86-82 lead through three quarters.
The fourth quarter initially favored the Timberwolves, but the Mavericks gradually picked up the pace. Olivier-Maxence Prosper’s pass led to Irving’s bucket. Still, the Mavericks’ efforts fell short, as the Timberwolves’ offense — led by Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Julius Randle — returned to being aggressive and confident. The Timberwolves held on for a 115-114 win in regulation.
Mavericks-Timberwolves Highlights
The Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game featured multiple highlights, such as the NBA world’s recent criticism of Klay Thompson in Monday’s game. Thompson played 30 minutes but finished with just seven points, two rebounds, and two assists while shooting 2-5 from the field and 1-2 from the three-point range – a far cry from his Golden State Warriors days. All Things Mavs wrote on X, “Klay Thompson has been horrible today.”
For the Mavericks, Daniel Gafford made a statement on Monday amid all the trade rumors. The Mavericks reportedly don’t intend to trade Gafford after acquiring him at the trade deadline last season and seeing him become a key part of the team’s run to the NBA Finals. Gafford proved himself in Monday’s game with a career-high in points scored with 31 points on 12-15 shooting, 15 rebounds and seven blocks.
Final Thoughts
Despite a career game from Daniel Gafford, the Charlotte Hornets outlasted the Dallas Mavericks, 110-105, at the Spectrum Center on Monday. LaMelo Ball converted a free throw with 13 seconds left to put the Hornets up, 108-105, but missed his second free throw, which left the door open for the Mavericks to tie the game and force overtime. However, a three-pointer from Thompson missed its mark with five seconds left.
After Monday’s game, Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd commented on Thompson’s three-pointer. Kidd told Mavs.com, “I thought he had a great look … We talked about where we were going to go … Klay had a good look – back rim. And I thought Maxi had a great look at getting the offensive rebound, but unfortunately, it went through his hands but a good look by Klay.”
In terms of the Hornets, Josh Green – who played for the Mavericks for the last four seasons – faced his former team on Monday, but only scored four points. The Mavericks selected Green with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft out of Arizona. Green told Mavs.com, “To be able to play there and be in the (NBA) Finals (last season), I’ll never forget that. Dallas will always have a special place in my heart.”
The Dallas Mavericks will travel to downtown Oklahoma City to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second game of two back-to-back games on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Central. The Mavericks’ short-distance trip to Oklahoma City is approximately 205 miles or a 45-minute nonstop flight. The Thunder previously hosted the Utah Jazz at the Paycom Center on Wednesday before hosting the Mavericks in the same arena.
