DALLAS — Naz Reid’s season-high 27 points, with 19 scored in the first half, led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a comeback victory over the Dallas Mavericks, ending 119-101 on Thursday night. Karl-Anthony Towns also shone with 21 points and a season-high 17 rebounds, helping the Timberwolves overturn an early 15-point deficit.
The win was significant for Minnesota, improving their record to 18-5 and avoiding their first losing streak of the season, while also tying them with Boston for the NBA’s best record.
Despite a stellar performance from Luka Doncic, who racked up 39 points and 13 rebounds, the Mavericks saw their four-game winning streak snapped. Doncic’s effort marked his ninth consecutive game scoring at least 30 points, underscoring his position as one of the NBA’s leading scorers.
Minnesota, known for their defensive prowess, demonstrated their strength by limiting Dallas to just 41 points in the second half, and a mere 19 points in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Edwards, returning to the Timberwolves’ lineup after a hip injury, contributed nine points. However, it was Reid who stole the spotlight, coming off the bench to hit a career-high seven 3-pointers, including five in the first half. This marked the third time this season that someone other than Edwards or Towns led Minnesota in scoring.
The game’s turning point came midway through the third quarter when the score was tied at 74. The Timberwolves then embarked on an 8-0 run and maintained the lead for the remainder of the match, stretching their advantage to as many as 22 points. Towns played a crucial role during this phase, contributing eight points and six rebounds, while the Mavericks struggled with a shooting percentage of just 36.4% in the quarter.
Dallas felt the absence of Kyrie Irving, their second-leading scorer, who missed his third consecutive game due to a foot injury.
The Mavericks initially held the upper hand, leading 60-59 at halftime, thanks to Doncic’s impressive first-half performance, which included a left-handed layup in the closing seconds. They had started the game strong with a 14-0 run, but Minnesota quickly responded with a 10-0 run of their own to get back into the game.
Looking forward, the Timberwolves will host Indiana on Saturday, while the Mavericks are set to face Portland on the same day, each team looking to build on their current standings in a tightly contested season.
