Porzingis exits the game, Timberwolves topple Luka-less Mavs for 4th straight win / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports Credit Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 24 points, D'Angelo Russell added 22, and the Minnesota Timberwolves (15-15) held on for a 111-105 (27-25, 29-25, 30-38, 25-17) win over the visiting Dallas Mavericks (14-15) on Sunday night in Minneapolis.

Player of the Game EFF 19 Jaylen Nowell Points 16 Accuracy 6-9 Rebounds 4 Assists 3

Jaylen Nowell finished with 16 points off the bench for Minnesota, which has won four games in a row. Malik Beasley contributed 13 points and Jaden McDaniels tallied 12.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 28 points on 10-for-19 shooting for the Mavericks. Dorian Finney-Smith finished with 23 points on 9-for-13 shooting, and Jalen Brunson registered a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists.

Kristaps Porzingis exited the game in the 3rd quarter due to right foot soreness and did not come back.

The score was tied at 91 with 10 minutes remaining. Minnesota then went on a 12-6 run, capped by a McDaniels 3-pointer, to grab a 103-97 advantage with 4:29 to go.

The Timberwolves preserved the lead the rest of the way, as the closest Dallas got was 105-103 with 1:57 to play. Towns drained a 3-pointer 12 seconds later to extend the lead.

The Mavericks led 88-86 at the end of the third quarter. Dallas trailed by as many as nine points during the period but finished the quarter on an 18-7 run.

Minnesota built a 56-50 lead at the half.

The Timberwolves enjoyed a 13-0 run during the first quarter to transform a 13-9 deficit into a 22-13 lead. McDaniels started the run with a 3-pointer off an assist from Towns, and Russell punctuated it with a 3-pointer off a feed from Naz Reid.

Dallas battled back and eventually regained the lead midway through the second quarter. Brunson hit a pull-up jump shot to make it 35-34 in favor of the Mavericks with 7:41 to go.

The Timberwolves climbed back on top 56-46 with 26 seconds remaining in the half. But after Jarred Vanderbilt and head coach Chris Finch each drew a technical foul, the Mavericks sank four free throws before the break to pull back within six.

Timberwolves players Anthony Edwards and Taurean Prince each missed their second game in a row as they remained in COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Dallas missed seven players including Luka Doncic (left ankle), Willie Cauley-Stein (personal reasons), Josh Green (health and safety protocols), Reggie Bullock (health and safety protocols), Frank Ntilikina (illness), Eugene Omoruyi (right foot) and Sterling Brown (left foot).

T'wolves: Karl-Anthony Towns 24 (5/12 2PT, 11/13 FT, 7 REB, 6 AST, 4 TO), D'Angelo Russell 22 (4/9 2PT, 4/7 3PT), Jaylen Nowell 16 (4/7 2PT, 2/2 3PT), Malik Beasley 13 (4/12 3PT, 5 AST), Jaden McDaniels 12 (2/4 3PT), Patrick Beverley 10 (5/6 FT, 8 REB, 4 AST, 2 BLK).Mavericks: Tim Hardaway 28 (6/6 2PT, 4/13 3PT, 6 REB, 6 AST), Dorian Finney-Smith 23 (6/8 2PT, 3/5 3PT), Jalen Brunson 18 (4/8 2PT, 2/5 3PT, 11 AST, 5 TO), Kristaps Porzingis 13 (2/7 2PT, 9/9 FT).

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