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MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves played without Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo again Thursday night and still ran their winning streak to five games, routing the Dallas Mavericks 133-94 at Target Center behind guards Bones Hyland and LaMelo Ball.
Hyland scored 24 points off the bench on 7-of-10 shooting, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, and added 8 assists in 22:41. Ball had 22 points and 9 assists and made 6 of his 10 3-point attempts. Minnesota improved to 9-3 and led by as many as 44.
Edwards is out after right knee arthroscopy, and DiVincenzo is recovering from right Achilles tendon repair. Dallas fell to 7-5, its three-game winning streak ending in the opener of a three-game road trip.
Minnesota Timberwolves Turn Pressure Into Paint Points
Minnesota forced 19 turnovers, 10 of them on steals, and scored 25 points off them. The Timberwolves finished 37-of-54 in the paint and outscored Dallas 74-42 there.
“We’ll give Minnesota credit,” Mavericks coach Dusty May said. “I thought their point of attack defense, their activity on and off the ball was extremely disruptive, and they deserved to win the way they did tonight.”
Rudy Gobert and reserve Joan Beringer shot 8-of-11 between them and totaled 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Dallas grabbed 14 offensive rebounds to Minnesota’s 8, but the Timberwolves made all 10 of their second-chance field goals and won second-chance scoring 25-12.
May said the pressure started before Dallas’ ball handlers crossed half court and kept the Mavericks from getting clean catches. Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving combined for 22 points on 9-of-23 shooting.
Dallas Mavericks Cannot Match Minnesota’s Runs
P.J. Washington scored all 10 of his points in the first quarter, and two Naji Marshall free throws with 3:05 left gave Dallas a 24-19 lead. Hyland checked in at 4:34 and scored 8 points the rest of the quarter as Minnesota closed on a 15-2 run to lead 34-26.
Zaccharie Risacher, who did not play in the first quarter, pulled Dallas within 43-42 with a transition dunk off a Flagg steal with 6:53 left in the second. Minnesota outscored the Mavericks 60-27 from there through the end of the third quarter, a stretch that included a 36-17 third period.
“The most disappointing, just the way we responded to the runs was probably the thing that was most disappointing,” May said. “Once the floodgates opened, they’re an explosive team. Their speed, their athleticism, and then you factor that in with the shot making. Bones comes in, goes 5-of-6. A lot of those are off the bounce from three, and so it’s kind of the perfect storm. We’re not capitalizing on numbers breaks. We have a couple loose turnovers, and then they just make you pay, and then you’re playing on your heels.”
Dallas shot 7-of-22 in the third quarter, including 2-of-13 from 3-point range, and trailed 103-69 entering the fourth. None of its five starters returned.
Bones Hyland, LaMelo Ball Carry Minnesota’s Backcourt
Ball had 16 points by halftime and all 22 of his points through three quarters, and Hyland scored 9 more in the fourth. Together they went 11-of-16 from 3-point range and had 17 assists against 5 turnovers. The rest of Minnesota’s roster made 4 of 16 3-point attempts, and the Timberwolves assisted on 33 of their 52 field goals.
Ball hit both of his second-quarter 3-pointers on step-backs from 25 and 27 feet, then opened his third quarter with a 31-footer.
“I think that’s for us painfully obvious that when he gets going like that, he’s making shots off the dribble from 26, 28 feet,” May said. “We’ve got to figure out a solution for it. But then he’s able to get in the paint and break you down when you do push up and put two on the ball. So, obviously, when he has it going like that, he’s an extremely tough cover, and he played well tonight.”
Ayo Dosunmu added 18 points, Jaden McDaniels had 16 points and 9 rebounds, and Jonathan Kuminga finished with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Naji Marshall Points To Dallas’ Execution
Dallas trailed 67-52 at halftime after Minnesota scored 36 first-half points in the paint and 12 off the Mavericks’ 8 turnovers. Marshall finished with 13 points and 4 assists.
“I think it’s just us. I don’t think we was connected tonight,” Marshall said. “I don’t think we followed the game plan well tonight. Coach put a very good game plan together for us, and I think we let that slip. So those are good players over there. They got some guys over there who do their thing. So it’s our job to stay connected and prevent stuff like that from happening.”
Risacher, who agreed with Marshall that Dallas did not execute its game plan, scored 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range, with 11 coming in the fourth quarter. He said he had been frustrated with his shooting this season and credited staying confident and the work he puts in every day.
What’s Next For The Mavericks And Timberwolves
Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery), Tarik Biberović (right heel bursitis), and Sergio de Larrea (right knee sprain) were inactive for Dallas.
The Mavericks continue the trip Saturday at the Cleveland Cavaliers at 6:30 p.m. CT. Minnesota hosts the Chicago Bulls on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.
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