Dallas Mavericks (18-13, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (22-7, first in the Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Timberwolves -9.5; over/under is 228.5
BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota will try to keep its five-game home win streak intact when the Timberwolves play Dallas.
The Timberwolves are 15-4 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota is 8-2 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 14.3 turnovers per game.
The Mavericks are 13-10 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas scores 119.0 points and has outscored opponents by 1.4 points per game.
The Timberwolves average 11.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.2 fewer makes per game than the Mavericks allow (13.1). The Mavericks score 11.7 more points per game (119.0) than the Timberwolves give up to opponents (107.3).
The teams play for the second time this season. In the last meeting on Dec. 15 the Timberwolves won 119-101 led by 27 points from Naz Reid, while Luka Doncic scored 39 points for the Mavericks.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 22 points and 9.4 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards is averaging 20.8 points and 5.3 assists over the past 10 games for Minnesota.
Doncic is scoring 33.7 points per game with 8.4 rebounds and 9.2 assists for the Mavericks. Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 16.7 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 36.9% over the past 10 games for Dallas.
LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 7-3, averaging 114.1 points, 43.8 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 7.6 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.1 points per game.
Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 117.2 points, 41.3 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.5 points.
INJURIES: Timberwolves: Jaylen Clark: out (achilles), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (knee).
Mavericks: Maxi Kleber: out (toe), Kyrie Irving: out (heel).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
