Timberwolves Clear Statement in Both Preseason Games

We've finally got NBA basketball back! In what was a mostly one-sided affair, the Minnesota Timberwolves managed to defeat the Dallas Mavericks in both of their preseason games at the Etihad Arena.

Game 1 Analysis:

In their first matchup on Thursday, October 5th, the Timberwolves beat the Mavericks 111-99. This came to the surprise of many, as Anthony Edwards sprained his ankle during practice and was unable to play. The Timberwolves had five players with double-digit scoring, including Luka Garza, Naz Reid, Shake Milton, Nickeil-Alexander Walker, and Karl-Anthony Towns, with Towns leading the team with 20 points in just 17 minutes.

On the other hand, the Mavericks only had two double-digit scorers, Jaden Hardy with 13 points and Luka Dončić with 25 points. Kyrie Irving's performance was disappointing, and it was evident that he needed more time to build chemistry with the team. The Mavericks had an off night, with only 37% of their shots finding the mark, and they shot 56.7% from the free-throw line. Additionally, they lost the rebounding battle, grabbing 14 fewer rebounds than the Timberwolves, a crucial aspect for second-chance points and initiating new offensive opportunities.



Game 2 Analysis:

In Game 2, which just wrapped up earlier today, the Timberwolves beat the Mavericks again with a final score of 104-96. In this game, it was the Mavericks that had a player out, with Kyrie not participating due to groin soreness. Similar to the first game, the Mavericks had only Jaden Hardy and Luka Dončić as their double-digit scorers, but in this match, Hardy led the team with 22 points.

Anthony Edwards made his return and, alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid, played a pivotal role in leading the Timberwolves to victory. The game was much closer this time, with the score remaining within two points near the end of the fourth quarter. However, Vit Krecj and rookie Leonard Miller sealed the game with a pair of three-pointers, effectively securing a 102-93 lead with 1:40 remaining.



What this means going forward:

The Timberwolves are off to a strong start, highlighting the importance of having an experienced and well-rounded team. Their next game is against the New York Knicks on October 14th. As for the Mavericks, it's clear that their team is still working on building cohesion with all the new additions they made during the off season. They'll need to improve their shooting efficiency and rebounding moving forward. Fortunately, they have some time to address these issues, as their next game isn't until October 20th against the Detroit Pistons. While preseason performance may not entirely reflect the regular season, it does provide an indicator of where the teams stand at the moment.

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StarTribune