The Mavericks walked into Thursday with some real momentum after Cooper Flagg dropped 43 on the Indiana Pacers on Monday night. They left Minnesota looking nothing like a team that had any rhythm at all.
Anthony Edwards was out with a knee injury, and the Timberwolves didn’t seem to notice. Minnesota has now won four of its last five and, after a brutal second and third quarter, made it five of six by steamrolling Dallas 133-94.
Dallas actually had a decent start. The Mavericks spent most of the first quarter in front, got points off turnovers, and looked like they might settle in. Then the final minutes of the opening frame went sideways, and Minnesota took a 34-26 lead into the second.
The Mavs briefly trimmed the margin to 43-42 about five minutes into the second quarter. That was about as close as it got. The Timberwolves ripped off a huge run, making 22 of their next 30 shots across the end of the second and into the third, and they went into halftime up 67-52.
From there, the game turned into a runaway. Minnesota pushed the lead to as many as 36 in the third quarter and carried a 103-69 advantage into the fourth.
By the end, the loss dropped Dallas to 7-5, and there wasn’t much to salvage from a 39-point blowout. Cooper Flagg wasn’t very aggressive, Kyrie Irving had a rough night against Minnesota’s length and finished as a -36, Walter Clayton Jr. struggled with turnovers and shot poorly, and Santi Aldama couldn’t stretch the floor enough to keep Rudy Gobert honest.
Morez Johnson Jr. had as many turnovers as rebounds, Daniel Gafford was quickly played off the floor, and P.J. Washington was fouling a lot.
If there was one bright spot, it was Caleb Martin. He kept the ball moving, found open teammates, and knocked down a few tough shots early to help keep Dallas in it for a while.
The Mavericks may be asking too much of him by starting him, but he’s at least a useful role player now, which is more than could be said a year ago. He’s even the kind of player they could include in a trade without getting laughed at.
Naji Marshall also had a mixed night. He finished with 13 points and 4 assists, but he went 4/10 from the field, 1/4 from three, and committed two turnovers. The offense also seemed to stall whenever he was on the floor.
Marshall showed some value in last week’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, but this season has mostly been a struggle. He has traits teams can use, but with the way he fits this version of the Mavericks, it’s fair to wonder how clean that pairing really is.
And because Dallas extended him, moving him this year would be difficult. Teams won’t be lining up to pay him more than $51 million over the next three seasons.
In Other News...
Mavericks Just Got Exposed In A Way Dusty May Couldnt Ignore
The Mavericks latest loss was the kind that lingers, not just because of the score, but because it laid bare a problem Dallas could not hide for long. Minnesota rolled to a 133-94 win, and LaMelo Ball was at the center of it, carving up the defense and forcing Dallas to spend the night reacting instead of dictating.
Dusty May acknowledged Balls impact after the game, a reminder that the Mavericks are still searching for cleaner answers when a high-end creator starts controlling the tempo. Dallas sits at 7-5 now, and with the Cavaliers up next, the margin for another uneven defensive showing is already shrinking. [Read more 🡒]
Wembanyama Is Forcing A Spurs Debate Fans Never Expected So Soon
Victor Wembanyamas latest surge has turned San Antonios 10-game win streak into more than a hot stretch. The Spurs big man has been piling up historic nights, including a run that matched Tim Duncans mark for 30-point, 5-block games and a span that made him the first player since blocks were tracked to average at least 35 points and 5 blocks over five games. He has also logged multiple 40-point games in under 30 minutes, a reminder that this is no ordinary early-season heater.
For a franchise that has spent years searching for its next cornerstone, the debate around Wembanyama is no longer about potential. It is about how quickly he is forcing himself into the leagues top tier, and how far this version of the Spurs can go with him driving the conversation on both ends of the floor. The numbers keep getting stranger, the ceiling keeps rising, and the rest of the NBA is left trying to catch up. [Read more 🡒]
Cooper Flagg Gave Mavericks Fans One Bright Spot In Minnesota
Even in a rough night in Minnesota, Cooper Flagg gave Mavericks fans something to remember. With Dallas already chasing the game, the rookie flashed the kind of athletic ability that can cut through a lopsided score and remind everyone why his long-term upside matters, especially on a roster still trying to find its footing.
The bigger picture was less encouraging for Dallas, which had Kyrie Irving back in the mix but still spent much of the night trying to dig out of a deep hole. Minnesota kept rolling behind a big performance from LaMelo Ball, and the Mavericks now move on to a demanding road trip with stops against the Cavaliers and Celtics, looking for a sharper response. [Read more 🡒]