Dallas Mavericks vs Minnesota Timberwolves Match Player Stats On Dec 10, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 10, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Timberwolves hung on to beat the Mavericks 97-92 on Sunday, Minnesota's third win of the season against Dallas.

Karl-Anthony Towns provided much of the offense for Minnesota. The Timberwolves center scored a team-high 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Jimmy Butler added 22 points for the Timberwolves (16-11). Jamal Crawford, who scored 16 points, hit a pair of free throws with 16.4 seconds to play.

Dallas' Wesley Matthews had a look at a game-tying shot with 11 seconds left, but it hit off the rim. Minnesota's Taj Gibson pulled down the rebound, got fouled and made two free throws to seal the victory.

Matthews finished with 14 points in the loss, the third straight for the Mavericks (7-20).

Harrison Barnes had 19 points for Dallas, while Maxi Kleber and J.J. Barea added 16 points apiece. Six Mavericks players scored in double figures, but it wasn't quite enough.

The margin of victory Sunday was the smallest in the teams' three meetings this season, as the Timberwolves won each of the other two contests by double digits.

Minnesota led by two heading into the fourth quarter. The Wolves are now 15-3 this season when in front after three quarters.

Neither team led by more than six points in the fourth, though Minnesota had a chance to extend the margin to seven late. However, Andrew Wiggins missed a pair of free throws, and Antonius Cleveland responded with a 3-pointer at the other end to cut the deficit to 87-85.

Matthews also hit a 3-pointer down the stretch as Dallas pulled within one. The Mavericks took a brief one-point lead when Barea made a shot off the glass against his former team, but Minnesota answered at the other end to regain the lead.

As has been the case in recent games, Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau used just a three-man bench of Gorgui Dieng, Tyus Jones and Crawford while playing his starters for extended minutes. Crawford scored 16 of the team's 22 bench points on Sunday.

NOTES: Dallas PG Dennis Smith Jr. missed his second consecutive game due to a sore hip. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said that there is no clear timetable for Smith's return. ... Timberwolves C Karl-Anthony Towns collected his 21st double-double of the season. Towns grabbed his 10th rebound of the game just 1:30 into the second half. ... Minnesota continues its five-game homestand Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers. ... Dallas returns home to host the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.