Timberwolves look to bounce back against Mavericks

The Minnesota Timberwolves insist they are not too worried about a one-game setback.

They just want to make sure that a hiccup does not turn into something more serious.

Minnesota will have a chance to reassert its winning ways when it tips off against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night in Minneapolis.

The Timberwolves are coming off a 123-112 loss against the Denver Nuggets at home on Saturday night. It marked the first loss in five games for Minnesota, which previously had reeled off two wins apiece against the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings.

Anthony Edwards is hoping to bounce back in a big way against the Mavericks. He took the blame for the loss against the Nuggets after he shot 8-for-23, including 0-for-8 from deep.

"I've just got to make my shots," Edwards said. "It's that simple. Just missed a bunch of shots (against the Nuggets)."

Edwards has made plenty of shots this season. He leads the Timberwolves with 27.3 points per game, and he is shooting 47.6% overall and 41.1% from 3-point range.

Julius Randle ranks second on Minnesota with 25.5 points to go along with 7.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. Jaden McDaniels rounds out the top three with 17.7 points per game.

The Timberwolves will take on a Mavericks squad that is playing on short rest.

Dallas outlasted the Portland Trail Blazers for a 138-133 overtime victory on its home court Sunday night. Cooper Flagg and P.J. Washington scored 21 points apiece, and Daniel Gafford scored 20 points while making six of eight shots from the field.

Flagg has fared well in his first 14 games in the league. The top overall pick of the 2025 draft has scored 20-plus points four times, and he has a pair of double-doubles in the early going in averaging 15.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

On Monday in Minnesota, the Mavericks will remain without veteran big man Anthony Davis. The team announced Sunday that he would miss the next 7-10 days as he continues to recover from a strained left calf.

"He wants to be out there to help us," Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. "But this gives him seven to 10 days to get better or to get stronger. Hopefully, in seven to 10 days, he's back on the floor."

Timberwolves center Naz Reid said it will be important for him and his teammates to consider passing the ball better against the Mavericks. He cited that as the reason for the previous loss to Denver.

"Maybe we didn't move the ball enough," Reid said after Minnesota tallied 23 assists. "We had like, 30-something assists the last two nights. Maybe that's what it was.

"I think it was self-inflicted."

This is the first meeting of the season between the teams. They played each other three times last season, with the Timberwolves earning a 2-1 series win.

Minnesota won both road games, including a six-point win on Dec. 25 and a one-point win on Jan. 22. Dallas won the lone game in Minnesota as it held on for a 120-114 victory on Oct. 29.

The Timberwolves are 3-3 at home this season. The Mavericks are 1-2 on the road.

--Field Level Media