RS Game 12: Mavs @ Timberwolves (Thu 8:00 ET)

[Dirk]

The Mavs open a three-game road trip in Minneapolis against a Wolves team that has somehow gotten tougher without Anthony Edwards. Minnesota has won the last six meetings, so Dallas has a streak to snap.



That was a bucket.

TALE OF THE TAPE (2026-27, league rank)
......................DAL...................MIN
Net Rtg...............+4.7 (12)..........+11.0 (3)
Off Rtg...............115.8 (12)........117.1 (8)
Def Rtg...............111.2 (10)........106.1 (2)
Pace....................99.2 (17)..........99.9 (9)
PPG / Opp...........114.9 / 110.3....118.1 / 107.0
3P%......................34.4 (18)..........37.3 (8)
3PA per game.........35.9 (20)..........39.0 (14)

TIMBERWOLVES SNAPSHOT
Four straight wins since Edwards' knee scope; Ball, Dosunmu and McDaniels driving a top-two defense.

• W 115-100 vs UTA – fourth straight win
• W 115-109 @ NOP – swept a two-game road trip
• W 117-107 @ HOU – beat a fellow West contender

Key players: LaMelo Ball (18.3/3.3/6.0), Ayo Dosunmu (18.1/4.9/4.0), Jaden McDaniels (17.0/6.1/3.6)
Injuries: MIN – Edwards (out), DiVincenzo (out) | DAL – Lively, Biberovic, De Larrea, Johnson Jr. (DTD)

Matchup:

• Their strength: defense – 106.1 Def Rtg, 2nd in the league even without Edwards.
• Their weakness: free throws – 67.0% as a team, worst in the NBA. Attack and get fouled.
• X-factor: the glass – Gobert averages 12.1 boards; Dallas can't get beaten on second chances.

H2H: First meeting | 2025-26: 0-4 | Next: @ Cavaliers (Sat)

[41Dirk41]

Very interesting game.

[HMFFL]

I hope we get this win and get our away record to 3-2.

This should be a fun game for us to watch tonight and a close one.

I want to end this ugly streak we have going on and beat the T Wolves, since they have kicked our backside 6 straight times.

GO MAVS!!!!!!!

[Mavrelous]

What a collapse.

[41Dirk41]

Bad first half.

[41Dirk41]

i don't see in Aldama a great 3points shooter... just decent.

[Darren]

Coop is completely lost. Get stopped by McDaniels while gets bullied by Ball. The Mavs end up playing stagnant in offense while giving Gobert all kind of advantages. This is a difficult matchup to Coop and Gafford. The Mavs is just really bad at 3 and is just short-handed in playmaking and size.

[Darren]

This is kind of game you can give Sasser a try.

[Darren]

It is difficult to win if you are playing at least one on two every possession. It is more than obvious.

[Maverick41]

Disappointing half. Both Kai and Clayton had a rough start on both ends. The 3 fouls on PJ really hurt in particular.

[Archx]

This is pure torture.. and keep starting C.Martin in 2026. What a brilliant idea.

[Darren]

This roster is flawed. The management has to fix it. I still think there's better pick at 9. The Mavericks need quality pieces to do real damage to playoff team. When Coop struggle, it's over. If the tactics don't work, there's no backup plan. The size problem and lack of playmaking and spacing is for real. The Mavericks is currently out of playoff In standing.

[atlantabbq99]

This is very typical of Zach, the one good game he has, is also in a blow out lose. Very on par over the last 3 years.

[Darren]

I think Johnson, Aldama, Marshall, Christie, Martin, Larrea and Sasser are not ready to compete against playoff team. Risacher has to become a major contributor. And the Mavericks still need a scoring option. If Orlando wants to move on from Black, Bane and Isaac, the Mavericks should make an offer.

[Darren]

Maybe we monitor Pheonix Suns and Utah Jazz as well.

[Darren]

in a long run, we need PJ, DLive and Risacher to have playmaking skills. Will DLive sits for the season? It has been a month since season opener.

[Mavrelous]

This is a really puzzling loss, the team was healthy and rested, and looked amazing in the lead up.
Hopefully they can rinse the aweful taste next game.

[Darren]

We also need to give Cisse minutes over Johnson. The lateral quickness to stay with guard is definitely exaggerated. I'd rather have more size on court.

[41Dirk41]

destroyed. Next game please.

[MassimoPayne]

To be honest I quit watching in the third quarter. From the beginning on you had the feeling that this will not have a good end tonight.
Very good loss to remember where we come from and how top teams perform. We are not a top team at the moment. What annoyed me the most is CLayton taking all these shots. I know that he can hit a couple of shots but he shouldn't take them all the time with Kyrie, Coop and PJ on the floor.

Max Chrsitie is about to be gone. Only 6 minutes in a blow out loss. I don't think he has much value to get anything reasonable back unfortunately.

D-Live has to come back by end of november. You can't cruise control in the West