It’s understandable if the fact that the Minnesota Timberwolves are the No. 1 team in the Western Conference has eluded you.
If ever a team with a 17-5 record is flying under the radar, the Wolves are it.
Even with Monday’s 121-107 loss at New Orleans, coach Chris Finch has his team playing as well as anybody more than a quarter of the way into the regular season.
They have one of the best young players in the league in Anthony Edwards, who doesn’t get mentioned much in the MVP conversations, but has terrific numbers (24.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists) while hitting 37.8 percent of his three-point tries.
On the bright side for the Mavericks, who will meet the Wolves Wednesday at American Airlines Center, Edwards missed Monday’s game in New Orleans with a hip issue and is being listed as questionable (Jaden McDaniels, ankle, also is questionable).
With or without Edwards, the Wolves are formidable with a trio of big men that make matching up difficult. The Wolves start Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert and have Naz Reid averaging better than 12 points off the bench.
Their size also has led to them to being one of the best rebounding teams in the league, which will be a challenge for the Mavericks, who have been better on the boards of late.
Here’s what else to look for as the Mavericks try to win their fifth consecutive game.
- The Timberwolves, despite losing to the Pelicans on Monday, had won six in a row and nine of 10 before that loss. In addition, the Wolves have won seven of their last nine games on the road. This is the end of a three-game trip.
- They hang their hat on defense. They are second in the NBA in fewest points allowed at 105.9 per game and have the best overall defensive rating, allowing 106.9 points per 100 possessions.
- These teams should get comfortable. They will meet each other in three of the next 14 games through Jan. 7. The other meeting is on Dec. 28 in Minneapolis.
- Gobert has averaged 14 points and 11.9 rebounds for his career against the Mavericks. The 14 points is the most he’s averaged against any Western Conference opponent.
- The Mavericks will be trying for their season-best fifth consecutive victory. They opened the season 4-0, then went 7-8 over the following 15 games before winning their last four.
- Luka Dončić has been on a tear pretty much all season, but particularly so of late. He’s scored 30 or more points in eight consecutive games. That’s the second-longest such stretch of his career. He had nine consecutive 30-point outings early last season. During this eight-game run, he’s averaging 34.6 points, 10.4 assists and 8.6 rebounds.
- Dante Exum has been clutch in the three most recent games. He’s played at least 33 minutes in each one, largely because of the Mavericks’ injury situation, and has averaged 21.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
- The Mavericks added Seth Curry (left ankle) to the injury list Wednesday. He is questionable for the game, as is Derrick Jones Jr. (quad). Tim Hardaway Jr. (back) is probable. Maxi Kleber (toe), Josh Green (elbow) and Kyrie Irving (heel) all are out.
- The schedule doesn’t get any easier through the holidays for the Mavericks. After this challenging game, they play seven of their next 10 games on the road and six of the opponents are over .500.
MAVERICKS (15-8) vs. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (17-5)
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, American Airlines Center, Dallas.
TV: Bally’s Sports Southwest;
Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish).
X: @ESefko
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