Walking Wolves vs. Mavericks
If it is Wolves planned to spend a quiet evening, they wouldn’t have it any other way. Minnesota came up short with the Mavericks (120-96), greatly weakened and in trouble at Target Center.
Dallas’ first defensive action sets the tone for the evening. The guests play in the zone, while the ball is in their hands Rudy Gobert around the central circle. So it’s not a danger, but the two defenders are still facing him and they’re leaving Donte DiVincenzo himself to draw 3 points. The Mavericks held their own for eight minutes thanks to their outside shooting skills and even drew two quick fouls on Anthony Edwards. But they don’t take advantage of it, and Naz Reid he comes to punish them. The interior of the wolves makes a number of good choices, when D’Angelo Russell two minutes pass. Enough to increase the deficit from five to twelve units for the Wolves, who in the first quarter have up to 15 points advantage, despite five turnovers.
The Reid show continues, on the dunk and on the perimeter. The interior is having a magnificent first period, and it is undoubtedly not insignificant if his exit coincides with the Mavericks’ surge. Russell and PJ Washington they go on a 10-2 run, and Dallas gets back to less than ten points for a while. But this good passage is short-lived and becomes a tandem Anthony Edwards – Julius Randleuntil then very discreet. Minnesota ends the second quarter with a 12-2 run and regains the advantage according to the appearance of the match (61-44).
Naz Reid glasses
Dominant near the circle, Wolves also set sights from distance. DiVincenzo, but first of all Jaden McDaniels3/3 on 3-pointers in the third quarter broke down the Mavericks defense a bit more. Dallas’ offense pales in comparison, even if Cooper Flagg shows some interesting flashes. But when it comes to creation, Jason Kidd’s team was very poor. And Minnesota irreparably adds to the bill. The deficit grew to 30 points, and Reid even extended it to 32 lengths just before the buzzer (98-66) on his sixth shot from behind the arc in the third quarter.
The difference is made and Chris Finch can quickly afford to leave his main players on the bench. Joan Beringer he took advantage of the opportunity to pick up eight minutes, having played just 35 seconds combined over the past three games. The Frenchman shows good activity (6 points, 4 rebounds) and climbs into the alley-oop. Dallas at least saved the performance a little with the last lineup Jaden Hardy. Leeder scored 17 of the Mavericks’ 30 points in the fourth quarter to reduce the scope of the loss, even if Behringer came to pick him up high in the final moments.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Minnesota wins without forcing. Wolves’ seventh win in their last nine games on Monday. And this one will not go down as the hardest to get in the season. Minnesota won by 24 points, Anthony Edwards (13 points on 5/14) and Julius Randle (12 points on 4/16) the team’s fifth and sixth scorers… Naz Reed took over brilliantly (22 points, including 19 on the break, 12 rebounds) and the whole team responded: +16 rebounds…
– From bad to worse for the Mavs. This night will soon be forgotten for Dallas, another one. Without Derek Lively II and Daniel Gafford, saved for the Texans’ second straight game, the Mavericks suffered terribly near the circle. And that wasn’t the only flaw in this matchup, where nothing went right, from a poor 19/31 on free throws to a paltry 13 total assists.
2025-11-18 05:59:00
