MINNEAPOLIS – After starting 0-2 on this four-game road trip, the Mavericks knew they had to find a way to win Wednesday to be in position to finish this trip with a .500 record.
Well, that chance at a 2-2 road trip came to fruition for the Dallas Mavericks thanks to Wednesday’s 104-99 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. The Mavs will now take a 1-2 record on this road trip into Friday night’s game in Houston.
In addition, after losing in Minnesota on Monday, 116-106, in uninspiring fashion, the Mavs knew they had to do everything within their powers to get out of the Twin Cities with a split.
Mission accomplished.
“We’re obviously looking at every game one at a time,” center Dwight Powell said. “It’s always difficult playing two games in one city against the same team.
“It’s definitely (an opportunity) to build on some of the things that we did good, but also adjust to the things we haven’t. So we’re definitely going to take this and try to grow from it.”
Here are the three takeaways from the five-point win over the Timberwolves.
DONCIC PICKED APART THE DEFENSE: Luka Doncic knew the Timberwolves were going to double-team him and force the ball out of his hands and force his teammates to beat them. But with the precision of a surgeon on the operating table, Doncic sliced and diced his way through Minnesota’s defense for 25 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists and three steals.
HARDAWAY BACK IN THE FOLD: After missing Monday’s 10-point loss to the Timberwolves with a non-Covid illness, Tim Hardaway Jr. was back in the lineup Wednesday and responded with 21 points on 6-of-13 shots. Hardaway, who was 4-of-10 from downtown, also went on a personal 8-0 run which helped the Mavs earn an 88-85 lead with 6:11 remaining in the game.
BULLOCK WAS BULLISH: He hasn’t had a whole bunch of moments on the offensive end of the court this season which he can celebrate. But Reggie Bullock was able to finally seize the moment during a critical time in Wednesday’s game. With the Mavs caught up in another tense and tight game, Bullock fired in two three-pointers on back-to-back trips up the floor that upset the Target Center crowd and gave the Mavs a 97-89 lead and some much-needed breathing room with 3:58 left in the game,.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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