The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, 128-108. Kristaps Porzingis led Dallas with 29 points. Anthony Edwards also had 29 in the loss to the Wolves.
After two days off, the Dallas Mavericks looked like they were still on a break during the first few minutes of the first quarter. Minnesota, led by Karl Anthony-Towns, jumped to a 16-3 lead with Dallas wandering through sloppy possessions. Porzingis found his attack after two difficult games in Portland and scored 12 in the period in several ways, including a jump, theft that led to a transitional dunk and free throws. With Luka Doncic unable to score and commit three early plays, the only real way for Dallas to stay in the first quarter was on the free-throw line, where he made 10 and made nine. The Mavericks seemed lucky to end the quarter losing just 33-30.
Things on Monday kept their ugly pace for Dallas, crowned early with a strange technique over Tim Hardaway Jr. after he left the game. The Mavericks stayed close, but the game remained poor and Doncic’s kicks kept the Wolves in the lead. Minnesota, however, kept a ton of dirt and Dallas got the bonus with more than five minutes in the room for the second time in the game. A three Porzingis and a three Hardaway gave the Mavericks their first game advantage around the 3:30 mark. Doncic finally got on the board with a jumper. After a late attack by Luka resulted in a Porzingis wing, Dallas got a 56-55 lead at halftime.
Ball three began to fall for Dallas in the third, with Minnesota stumbling and continuing the foul too much. Porzingis started to hit the shots, and the Mavs dominated the table, overcoming the Wolves by 32-18. They took an 88-73 lead for the fourth.
Dallas kept the heat on Wednesday and generally chased the wolves off the ground. Doncic shook off his longtime funk to connect on a few trios. Dwight Powell had some post-movement finishes. Doncic received technical criticism for being too rude to a referee. Jalen Brunson secured a one-two as a result of the recovery. It was a strange game, that’s what I’m saying. Even the newbies finally came in and Tyler Bey made a move! The Mavericks came out with a pretty easy win, 128-108.
Now, a few things:
Kristaps Porzingis played a great game when Dallas needed
If you watched that game, Luka Doncic looked like a guy who needed a nap and didn’t take it off (and apparently that’s what happened if you followed him on social media). When Dallas fell 16-3, it looked like the kind of game we all scream at on television.
Then something good happened: Kristaps Porzingis got to work and kept the Mavericks afloat – a free throw line, a few free throws, a cool move under the rim – all to keep Dallas at bay. He finished with 29 points, grabbed nine rebounds and made four assists. His attack turned out to be a good bonus for a Dallas attack that caught fire.
Your defense deserves real praise. Although he never seems to challenge three-point shots, his defense against painting bordered on the threat, blocking and altering shots apparently at will. Porzingis seemed to care that the often reckless wolves continued to challenge him on the edge. Did not work.
Dots in the painting certainly help things
It will take some time for me to understand how Dwight Powell scored 16 points in the world, but he was just one of many Dallas Mavericks who scored in the painting apparently at ease (the only guy who didn’t was Luka Doncic, oddly enough)
The Mavericks feasted on the painting, marking 58 on the key and beating the wolves in this area by 14. One could or perhaps should argue that these forays of paint lead to his three openings later in the contest.
Jalen Brunson’s good recovery game
The Clippers and Blazers series were not particularly kind to Brunson. His initial pass against the Wolves seemed to be more of the same, with some questionable passes and shooting decisions. But he kept pushing and in a game in which he managed an extended race (30 minutes), Brunson scored 16 points and conceded five helpers, while also achieving a record 11 rebounds for the team. A strange statistic for sure, but in a season where it seems that Dallas cannot recover, they will take everyone away from whoever grabs them.
See you on Friday.