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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Dallas Mavericks News & Analysis > Instant Analysis: Timberwolves Escape With Narrow Win Over Short-Handed Mavericks

Instant Analysis: Timberwolves Escape With Narrow Win Over Short-Handed Mavericks

The Minnesota Timberwolves picked up a 115-114 win against the Dallas Mavericks to jump them in the standings.

Ishaan Bhattacharya
Jan 23, 2025
7 Min Read
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Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Timberwolves picked up a close 115-114 win against the Dallas Mavericks in the American Airlines Center in Dallas. This was an uncomfortable win for the Timberwolves, as the Mavericks suited up with seven players on the injury list. But a win is a win, and the Wolves picked this one up to improve to the West’s No. 8 seed.

Contents
  • Too Close For Comfort 
  • Mavericks Injuries Have Decimated Them
  • Wolves Rotation Is Uninspiring

Jaden McDaniels had a terrific night with 27 points (10-18 FG), eight rebounds, four steals, and three blocks, leading the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards chipped in with 21 points (6-19 FG), five rebounds, and seven assists while Mike Conley had 18 points, (6-9 FG) five rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. Julius Randle (16 PTS, 4-13 FG), Rudy Gobert (12 PTS, 3-4 FG), and Naz Reid (12 PTS, 5-9 FG) all contributed as well.

The Mavericks were led by a two-headed monster. Kyrie Irving scored 36 points (12-21 FG) with nine assists while P.J. Washington had 30 points (12-22 FG) and seven rebounds. Daniel Gafford had 14 points (6-11 FG), 12 rebounds, and three blocks while Maxi Kleber came off the bench for 10 points (4-5 FG). No other Maverick scored in double-digits

Let’s take a deeper look at this game and analyze its major takeaways.


Too Close For Comfort 

The Mavericks came into this game with a 3-10 record in their last 13 games, completely falling off the wagon since Luka Doncic’s Christmas Day injury against the Timberwolves. The Mavericks made a 28-point comeback and barely lost that game, with this contest also being too close for a Wolves team that should be dominating the short-handed Mavericks.

The Timberwolves performed at an average level, shooting 37-81 from the field (45.7 FG%) and 11-29 from three (37.9 3P%). They maximized getting to the free throw line, going 30-34 (88.2 FT%) and essentially winning the game at the line compared to the Mavs going 16-19 in their attempts.

The Mavericks were overall outplayed across the board, getting out-rebounded 39-38, out-assisted 26-24, out-stolen 10-5, and out-blocked 8-4. What kept this game close was Dallas’ scoring success on two-pointers, going 37-51 on two-pointers (45-90 from the field). 

The Wolves would’ve wanted a more convincing win tonight, but they won’t be beaten up over it because the outcome went their way despite the Mavs’ best efforts.


Mavericks Injuries Have Decimated Them

There is a small chance the Mavericks are forced to abandon their hopes of contention this season after a flurry of injuries that has decimated the team. They have been struggling with minor injuries from the start of the season, but their woes have gotten worse over the last month ever since Luka Doncic went out with his calf injury.

The Mavericks were without Dereck Lively (right ankle stress fracture), Klay Thompson (left ankle sprain), Naji Marshall (illness), Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain), Dwight  Powell (right hip strain), and Dante Exum (right wrist surgery). Outside Powell, each player is a proper rotational contributor for the Mavericks and their absence reduced the Mavs’ playable rotation to just eight players tonight.

Quentin Grimes rushed back from an injury after missing the last game to be available tonight and Kyrie Irving has also been playing through a back injury. Add to that, PJ Washington had to return early from a knee injury as well. This roster is in complete disarray with these injuries and has fallen from the No. 3 seed to the No. 9 seed in the last month.

This injury-ridden stretch has seen some bad losses, including tanking teams such as the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Charlotte Hornets. They’re 23-21 right now and if they can’t stay above .500 by the time Doncic returns, their season might as well be over.


Wolves Rotation Is Uninspiring

The Timberwolves starting five all had solid games tonight, showing an ideal version of the five all performing at a high level. With Naz Reid (12 PTS, 6 REB) also having a decent game, the Timberwolves can safely say the top six players in their rotation showed up tonight. But these six don’t always have such games at the same time, usually putting additional pressure on Anthony Edwards.

The bigger problem is that their overall rotation doesn’t have much quality depth. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a strong defensive option while Rob Dillingham is a promising rookie. Donte DiVincenzo is currently injured but he’s having a bad season in his own regard as well. They don’t have the depth beyond Edwards, Randle, Gobert, McDaniels, Conley, and Reid to consistently rely on, which explains why the team has regressed this season.

Even when they had rotational concerns last season, they had the top-end talent of Karl-Anthony Towns alongside Edwards. They don’t have that luxury at the top of the rotation but still have a rudimentary rotation without much dynamic play. 

This is the second time they’ve barely escaped with a win over the injured Mavericks. While wins are wins, a contending team shouldn’t be pleased to have performed like this against a team with only eight playable options.

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TAGGED:Anthony EdwardsDallas Mavericks ArchiveKyrie IrvingMinnesota Timberwolves Archive
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ByIshaan Bhattacharya
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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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