Karl-Anthony Towns led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a commanding 121-87 win over a Dallas Mavericks team missing its star duo, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, during Wednesday’s NBA action.
Towns contributed 29 points and nine rebounds, igniting the Wolves with crucial three-pointers towards the end of the first half, establishing a lead that Minnesota would not relinquish. His performance, particularly notable for his 4-6 three-point shooting, highlighted a season where he’s hitting a career-high 44.2% from beyond the arc.
“I just wanted it to translate to winning,” Towns said. “That’s what’s really good about this year.”
The Mavericks, without Doncic due to a sprained right ankle and Irving with a sprained right thumb, faced their third loss in as many games without both stars. The team has struggled significantly in their absence, having to navigate 26 games without at least one of them in a total of 48 games.
“Hopefully, they get healthy soon, but at the end of the day, we can’t be down whether the guys sit or not,” Green said. “We have to go into every game with the same mindset.”
Josh Green stepped up with 18 points, and Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 14 for the Mavericks, but the team’s overall performance suffered, especially from 3-point territory, where they managed only 6-29. This efficiency dip came against the NBA’s top-scoring defense, with the Wolves allowing their lowest points total of the season.
“I wouldn’t say we ran out of gas. I would say we got hit, and we didn’t hit back,” Green said.
The Mavericks’ depleted lineup, further strained by injuries to other key players, struggled to muster a response, falling significantly behind in the third quarter. This setback adds to Dallas’s challenges in securing a playoff spot, with the team experiencing a slump in recent games.
Aside from Towns, Rudy Gobert added 17 points for the Timberwolves, and Naz Reid scored 12, contributing to a balanced attack. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch highlighted the importance of having Mike Conley as a floor general.
“It looked like a very typical Mike Conley game,” Finch said. “He did a great job of running the show, communicating with all the guys, keeping us well organized, and then hitting big shots.”
The team’s depth was fully displayed, allowing for significant bench contributions in the final quarter, including a notable performance from G-Leaguer Luka Garza.
The Timberwolves, now leading the West with a 34-14 record, look to build on this victory in their upcoming game against the Orlando Magic. Meanwhile, navigating through injuries and a precarious playoff position, the Mavericks aim for a turnaround against the Milwaukee Bucks in their next matchup.
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