MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (15-15) AT MAVERICKS (14-15)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: BSSW
Radio: The Eagle, 97.1 FM; Univision 99.1 FM (Spanish)
About the Mavericks: The Mavs will be playing the Timberwolves for the second time in three days and will be seeking revenge after losing in Minnesota, 111-105, this past Sunday. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the way for the Mavs with 28 points, six rebounds and six assists, Dorian Finney-Smith tallied a season-high 23 points, and Jalen Brunson added 18 points and a game-high 11 assists. . .The Mavs will again be short-handed tonight. Not playing tonight for the Mavs include Luka Doncic (left ankle soreness), Reggie Bullock (health and safety protocols), Maxi Kleber (health and safety protocols), Josh Green (health and safety protocols), Willie Cauley-Stein (personal reasons) and Eugene Omoruyi (right foot injury). Also, Kristaps Porzingis (right toe soreness) is questionable for tonight’s game after getting injured in the third quarter of Sunday’s contest. . .This is the opener of a two-game home stand for the Mavs. They will also host the world champion Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday before starting a five-game road trip Christmas in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz. . .The Mavs are 3-3 in their last six games and 7-7 at home. . .The Mavs are 38-25 all-time at home against the Timberwolves. . .On Monday the Mavs signed F Theo Pinson to a 10-day contract under the COVID-related hardship allowance. In 12 games this year for the G League’s Maine Celtics, Pinson averaged 16.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 4.4 apg.
About the Timberwolves: T-Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for his performance last week. In leading Minnesota to a perfect 3-0 record last week with wins over Denver, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Mavs, Towns averaged 28 ppg, 7.0 rpg and 4.7 apg and shot 54.7 percent from the field. That includes the 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists he collected during the victory over the Mavs. . .The Timberwolves are one of the surprise teams in the NBA this season and are riding a four-game winning streak. The wins came at Portland (116-111) on Dec. 12, at Denver (124-107) last Wednesday, at home last Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers (110-92), and the six-point victory over the Mavs on Sunday. . .Anthony Edwards had 24 points in the win over Portland and 38 points in the victory over Denver. However, Edwards missed the games against the Lakers and Mavs while in the NBA’s health and safety protocols. Josh Okogie and Baylor-ex Taurean Prince also missed the game against the Mavs due to the health and safety protocols. . .Towns had 28 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in the triumph over the Lakers. . .Minnesota is 6-6 on the road and sitting in the eighth spot in the Western Conference – half-a-game ahead of the Mavs. . .The Timberwolves are averaging 108.8 ppg and allowing 108.6 ppg.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
Share and comment