Mavs Lose To Timberwolves
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DALLAS — The Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing skid by picking up a rare road victory, 112-106, over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night at the American Airlines Center.
The Timberwolves (9-9) desperately needed the victory facing the second game of a back-to-back Sunday night at Oklahoma City. Then they are off to Mexico City for Wednesday’s Global Games matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.
For the Mavericks (10-8), it was only the second loss on their home floor, but also their second consecutive defeat after blowing a 17-point lead Friday night at Atlanta. The Mavs have now lost four of their last five after starting the season 9-4.
Dallas cut Minnesota’s 84-77 lead at the end of three quarters to 92-90 with 5:55 to go in the fourth quarter. Wolves shooting guard Kevin Martin followed with a pair of free throws and a jumper to extend the lead to 96-90. A Ricky Rubio baseline drive and then a long 2-pointer and a 3-pointer from Martin made it 103-92 with 3:12 to go to virtually ice the game.
Martin, who went 10-for-11 from the free throw line, finished with a game-high 27 points and knocked down three 3-pointers as Minnesota went 11-for-26 from beyond the arc. Center Nikola Pekovic dominated inside with 21 points on 10-for-13 shooting and nine rebounds. Forward Kevin Love was kept pretty well in check with 21 points on 6-for-14 shooting (and 11 rebounds), although he got free to bury a key 3-pointer with 1:55 to go.
Rubio, who stripped Nowitzki with less than a minute to play as Dallas was
in desperation mode, contributed 12 points and seven assists, and forward Corey Brewer knocked down three 3-pointers in scoring 13 points.
Dallas, playing without starting point guard Jose Calderon, was paced by shooting guard Monta Ellis’ 26 points on 9-for-15 shooting and six assists. Forward Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points — 10 in the fourth quarter — and Dalembert finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. Forward Shane Marion had just six points and struggling sixth man Vince Carter was just 4-for-12 from the floor for 10 points.
The Timberwolves shot better than 50 percent for the game and were in control most of the way, building a 52-41 lead with 2:10 to go in the first half. But from there Dallas staged a 27-12 run with 21 of the points coming from Ellis, Marion and Dalembert, to take a 68-64 lead midway through the third quarter. The lead didn’t last long as the teams went back and forth before Minnesota again surged ahead.
