The fourth-ranked Timberwolves bring an 8-3 record and a dominant point differential into Thursday’s clash with Dallas.
Thursday night, Minnesota’s 8-3 record and No. 4 power-index ranking meet Dallas at 7-4 and No. 13. The Timberwolves have outscored opponents by 122 points through 11 games, averaging 118.1 points while allowing 107; Dallas owns a plus-51 differential and averages 114.9 points. Cooper Flagg has produced 259 points and 69 assists in 10 games for the Mavericks, while LaMelo Ball leads Minnesota with 201 points and 66 assists in 11. With Anthony Edwards out and Dallas center Dereck Lively II unavailable, the battle between Flagg’s creation and Minnesota’s scoring balance looms large. Minnesota’s 4-1 home record gives it the edge on paper, but Dallas can make this a test of whether its offense can keep pace with the Timberwolves’ 122-point cushion.