Timberwolves News: Five Key Takeaways from Loss to Mavericks
The Minnesota Timberwolves showed flashes of superiority against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night but ultimately fell short, losing 120-114. They started strong, dominating the first quarter, but were outscored 67-48 in the subsequent two quarters, making a valiant but unsuccessful push in the fourth. This marks their second loss of the season.
Anthony Edwards Shines in Dominant First Quarter
Anthony Edwards had an explosive first quarter, scoring 24 points on 8-for-10 shooting, including 6-for-8 from beyond the arc. He finished the night as the leading scorer with 37 points, but his performance waned as the game progressed, and he didn’t hit another three-pointer until the fourth quarter.
Edwards also tied Naz Reid for the most turnovers in the game with five, highlighting an area the Timberwolves need to address. Despite this, he is having a remarkable scoring season, amassing 120 points in the team’s first four games—the highest total in franchise history for that span. He has attempted 90 shots overall, with 53 from beyond the arc, making his three-point attempt rate an impressive 58.9%. Notably, NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor pointed out that this rate exceeds anything former MVP James Harden achieved.
Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving
Clearly, the Timberwolves lack a dynamic duo like Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving of the Mavericks. While Anthony Edwards is capable on his own and some might suggest Julius Randle is stepping up as Minnesota’s second option, Randle’s skill set doesn’t compare to that of the Mavericks’ pair. Irving scored 35 points, with 25 coming after halftime and 16 in the third quarter, shooting 13-for-23 overall and 6-of-10 from three-point range. Dončić had a less significant impact on Tuesday, as he injured his right knee in the second quarter and went to the locker room, returning for the second half. He still managed to score 24 points, though he struggled with his shooting, hitting 10 of 27 shots and making just one of eight three-pointers—which turned out to be a crucial shot against the Timberwolves, reminiscent of his performance in last season’s Western Conference Finals.
When one of the Mavericks has an off night, it’s still enough for the team to stay competitive. In contrast, if Anthony Edwards underperforms, the Timberwolves face a bigger challenge. They’ll need to address this as the season progresses, considering players like Randle and Naz Reid. For now, the Wolves must figure out how to defend against what many believe is the best backcourt in the NBA, a challenge that many teams are also grappling with.
Insufficient Interior and Transition Defense
Losing a seven-footer like Karl-Anthony Towns is likely contributing to the Timberwolves’ diminished rim protection this season compared to last. Rudy Gobert often finds himself isolated in the paint, a situation the Mavericks exploited early in the game. The first 16 of Dallas’s 17 points on Tuesday came from inside the paint, frequently leading to dunks or easy layups by Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, or Dereck Lively II. The Wolves need to strengthen their interior defense, as they can’t afford to run with most teams, especially given they’ve been outscored in fast-break points in four games. This creates easy scoring opportunities for opponents, compounding Minnesota’s issues. After the game, Edwards spoke with Wolves Insider Dane Moore about their transition defense for the 2024-25 season. “I don’t know. I need to watch the film. I probably contribute to that too—talking to the refs, falling down, just immature stuff. That’s likely why we’re not getting back in transition. Not guarding the rim. A few possessions in, Mike [Conley] and I were back early, and I was telling Rudy [Gobert] to get back, but it’s on me to guard the rim since Rudy can take the opposite corner,” Edwards explained. “It’s just immature mistakes in our game plan.”
Turnovers
Another significant problem for Minnesota is their ball control, which reached a new low and likely contributed to their loss on Tuesday. The Timberwolves recorded a season-high 20 turnovers, leading to 25 points for the Mavericks, while Minnesota only capitalized on nine forced turnovers, scoring just five points. This has been a recurring issue for the Wolves this season, as they haven’t had a single game with fewer than ten turnovers. As mentioned earlier, combining high turnover rates with poor interior and transition defense creates a frustrating situation. Every player who took the court on Tuesday had at least one turnover, with Edwards and Reid each committing five.
Offensive Rebounding Issues
The statistics don’t fully capture the challenges in this area, as the Mavericks only edged the Timberwolves in offensive rebounds (13-12). Even during the crucial moments of the fourth quarter, both teams recorded five offensive rebounds, but Dallas consistently secured boards at key times. Head coach Chris Finch emphasized the importance of controlling the offensive boards late in the game. “The dagger shots at the end, when you’re trying to come back, are super painful,” Finch remarked. “But their offensive rebounds created a lot of transition opportunities, and we weren’t matching up quickly enough, allowing Kyrie to get open.” For the Mavericks, Washington and Lively each grabbed four offensive rebounds, while only Gobert matched that number for Minnesota. Jaden McDaniels had three, and Randle contributed two.
