The Minnesota Timberwolves could probably benefit from a holiday break to address the many issues that have led to the team’s disappointing 14-14 start.
Instead, the Wolves are set to play in front of a national TV audience when they visit the surging Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.
Minnesota dropped its third straight game on Monday in a 117-104 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
The Wolves will look to regroup against the Mavericks, who beat the Portland Trail Blazers 132-108 on Monday for their 14th win in their last 17 games.
Minnesota has failed to score 110 points in regulation in 14 straight games and struggled from the start in Monday’s loss to Atlanta. The Wolves fell behind 27-9 to begin the game and never recovered.
“We couldn’t finish around the rim again, turned it over at a high level to start the game, got down,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “We start the fourth, and it just became a shot-making contest. We missed about five wide-open shots, and they made theirs at the other end of the floor, and then turnovers hurt us late.”
Naz Reid scored 23 points off the bench and Julius Randle added 19 to go along with 13 rebounds in the loss to the Hawks.
Even with proven scorers such as Anthony Edwards and Randle, the Wolves are 23rd in the NBA with 109.3 points per game. Following Monday’s loss, Randle was asked how the Wolves could improve on the offensive end.
“To be honest, man, I don’t know,” Randle said. “That’s about as honest as an answer I can give you. I can tell you what’s working sometimes. Like when we’re playing with pace, moving, all that stuff. We’ve just got to do it more consistent than that, but I don’t know, man.”
Minnesota is looking to avenge a 120-114 home loss in its first meeting this season against Dallas on Oct. 29. Edwards scored 37 points for the Wolves, while Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 35.
While Minnesota is playing below expectations, Dallas is in fourth place in the Western Conference race and owns a 10-4 mark at home this season.
“We’re in a good seat, but still a long way to go,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “A lot of basketball to be played for us to get better. We believe we’ve done pretty well of late. But we can’t relax. The West is too tough. We’re not satisfied yet.”
Dallas star Luka Doncic returned after missing two games with a left heel contusion and scored 27 points in Monday’s win over Portland. Doncic is averaging 24.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 16 career games against Minnesota.
The Mavericks also received a spark against Portland from center Daniel Gafford, who finished with 23 points off the bench on 7-of-7 shooting from the field and 9-of-14 from the foul line.
“I feel like I’m on top of the world,” Gafford said. “I’m like a kid in a candy score, especially when I get an opportunity to score and get an and-one. It gives me a chance to yell and get the blood flowing, too.”
Dallas guard Klay Thompson enters Wednesday’s contest just two 3-pointers away from passing Reggie Miller (2,560) for fifth on the NBA’s all-time career 3-pointers list.