Luka Doncic's 39-Point Night Not Enough as Minnesota Timberwolves Snap Weary Dallas Mavs' Win Streak
Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks were riding a season-high-tying four-game win steak coming into Thursday's matchup with the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite starting the game on a 19-4 run, the Mavs were unable to overcome a methodical Wolves squad throughout the final three quarters and ultimately lost the game, 119-101
With the loss, the Mavs fell to 15-9 on the year, and the Wolves padded their record, improving to 18-5. Dallas now sits at fourth-place in the West with the Denver Nuggets creeping ahead by a half-game.
Doncic led the way for the Mavs in this one, putting up 39 points, six rebounds, 13 assists and two steals, but playing three games in four nights with a shorthanded roster finally caught up with his team. The four-time All-NBA First Teamer finished the game shooting 15-27 overall, 2-7 from deep and 7-7 from the free-throw line.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Despite having three star players in Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, it was backup center Naz Reid who made the biggest difference for Minnesota on Thursday. Reid finished with 27 points off the bench while hitting a career-high seven 3s. The Mavs only hit seven 3s as a team (7-32).
The Mavs came into this game having the league's third-best offensive rating at 119.3, but the Timberwolves have the league's top defensive rating at 106.8, and they had it on full display at American Airlines Center. Minnesota held the Mavs to 21.9 percent shooting from deep while also turning them over 15 times.
Doncic got the most help from rookie starting center Dereck Lively II, as he finished with 15 points on 7-9 shooting to go with six rebounds, one steal and two blocks in 32 minutes. Dante Exum pitched in 14 points as well during his fifth consecutive start. He shot 5-6 overall and tallied four rebounds and four assists while being a team-best +7 on the night.
Tim Hardaway Jr., who has arguably been the frontrunner for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award so far this season, struggled in his second game back from dealing with back spasms. He scored 10 points on 4-15 shooting off the bench while being a team-worst -30 in 32 minutes.
Next up, the Mavs will travel to the northwest to take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. Dallas played in Portland nearly one week ago and won 125-112 after star point guard Kyrie Irving went down with a heel contusion that has sidelined him for three consecutive games now. Will the Mavs be any closer to getting star point guard Kyrie Irving or key bench wing Josh Green back? Stay tuned to DallasBasketball.com on Friday for updates.
