GDT: Mavs @ TWolves 1/10/16 AT 4:00 CT

[dirt_dobber]

GDT: Mavs @ TWolves 1/10/16 AT 4:00 CT
http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400828444

Everyone on the Dallas Mavericks seems to know the importance of limiting turnovers. Coach Rick Carlisle keeps waiting for it to happen on a consistent basis.

The Mavericks wrap up the easier of their three-game road swings around a home contest as they face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

Dallas (21-16) failed to build on its victory at New Orleans, falling 96-95 at Milwaukee on Friday night. The Mavericks committed 16 turnovers that led to 20 points, a stark contrast to their 103-93 win Dec. 28 over the Bucks in which they had just four -- none of which provided any points.

"We kept giving them the ball," Carlisle told the team's official website. "We gave them the ball seven times in the first quarter for a total of 10 points, and that gets them to 28 points in the first quarter and kept us at 18."

Dirk Nowitzki had 20 points and Devin Harris added a season-high 19 off the bench for Dallas, which erased a double-digit deficit before a bad pass by Nowitzki led to Khris Middleton's winning basket with 10 seconds to play.

"We've got to focus on an all-around and efficient game from start to finish," Carlisle added. "We talked a lot about the keys to the game, and the No. 1 thing was ball security. We failed in the first half. Second half, we did a lot better."

Dallas has dropped four of its last six road games, but its chances for a 2-1 trip seem viable considering it swept last season's series from Minnesota (12-25). The Mavericks won the turnover battle in all three games, committing 37 while forcing 49. They also shot 51.2 percent while compiling a 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio.

The schedule toughens considerably after this contest. The Mavs host LeBron James and Cleveland on Tuesday before returning to the road to face Oklahoma City, Chicago and San Antonio, who have a combined 53-10 record at home.

The Timberwolves have dropped five straight after being routed 125-99 at home by the Cavaliers on Friday night. Andrew Wiggins scored a career-high 35 points, but Minnesota again put up token resistance defensively as Cleveland shot 53.1 percent and made 13 of 27 3-pointers -- seven by J.R. Smith.

"We played some good defense, they were making some contested shots," said Shabazz Muhammad, who had 22 points. "We just tried to play good defense and keep them in front of us but obviously everything was going in for them tonight."

Perimeter defense has been an issue throughout Minnesota's recent struggles in which it's dropped nine of 10. Opponents are shooting 37.3 percent from beyond the arc in that span, and eight of them made at least eight 3-pointers.

Dallas certainly isn't shy about taking 3-pointers, having attempted an NBA season high-tying 44 in Friday's loss while making 14. The Mavericks are 12-6 when they connect on 10 or more from long range.

Wiggins averaged 11.3 points versus Dallas last season as a rookie, going 13 of 37 from the field. Nowitzki was highly efficient for the Mavericks, scoring 15.7 points per game on 19-of-28 shooting.

[dirt_dobber]

By Kate Crawford
http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2016/1/...g-timberwolves

Tonight will be an excellent opportunity for the Mavericks to stop one tough loss from becoming a streak as Dallas continues its tour of the Midwest with a stop in Minneapolis to take on the Timberwolves. What can we expect?

What did Minnesota do over the offseason?

Surprisingly, this is the first of the four times these teams will meet this season. Since last season, the Wolves have brought in a few veteran players to round out a team stacked with young potential. They signed Tayshaun Prince and Andre Miller, who is the oldest player in the league and was in fact already playing college ball when Karl-Anthony Towns was born.

What have the Timberwolves done lately?

The Wolves' rebuilding process hasn't started paying dividends just yet. They're currently 13th in the West and riding a five-game losing streak after getting utterly demolished by the Cavaliers on Friday.

But there are certainly bright spots. Ricky Rubio, who still cannot shoot, has been having an impressive year nonetheless. He averages the fifth-most assists per game while turning the ball over less frequently than all of the guys above him in assists. And Karl-Anthony Towns has been a fantastic draft pick by most measures, averaging close to a double-double per game this year (16 points and 9.4 rebounds). His advanced stats also look pretty impressive, if you're into that sort of thing.

The Wolves are still inconsistent on both offense and defense, and the team certainly seems poised to add another year to their record-setting playoff drought. But, the eighth seed is still up for grabs, and they do still have a chance to sneak into the race for the chance to lose in four to the Warriors.

What do the Mavericks need to do to be successful?

That said, this is a game Dallas should win. An athletic young big man like Towns could present some problems for the Mavs' front court, but after letting the young Bucks get the better of them in Milwaukee, they should be prepared to handle the Wolves.

How to watch

The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Southwest in the Dallas area and on Fox Sports North in the Twin Cities. If you're outside of those areas, you can watch via NBA League Pass. Tonight's game tips off early at 4:00pm Central time.

[Melonhead]

Mavs haven't learned their lesson yet. I expect a tough game, but it will be a win. Early starts never seem to favor us

[EricaLubarsky]

Mavs need to learn some urgency or we could be helping another desperate team on a losing streak break theirs

[CGM]

...the Tinder-wolves are young, athletic, and sometimes, exciting to watch, but the Mavs are just too good for them... Mavs win:

Mavs - 110
Tinder-wolves - 100

[Kante]

Must-win game.

[yahyes]

Gotta get this

[BPo001]

I love what Javele brings to the table, but whenever he gets the ball he needs to realize he doesn't have to shoot it. Sometimes the 2 dribble, spin, left handed bank shot isn't the best look.

[BPo001]

Parsons, seriously? Free throws should be the easiest shot in basketball besides a layup.

[Thukydides]

McGee is awesome. Parsons badly needs more legs in everything he does, but had some nice passes. Dirk is unreal. Wes urgently needs to use his floater some.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

The offense is absolutely pathetic. We really need a trade for an offensive player.

[Thukydides]

Parsons is handling the ball a lot today. And doing well.

[j0Shi]

I'd really like to know before the season ends how this team can perform with all guys playing well at the same time.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Wes and Dwill combine today for...

48mins 0-14fg 6rebs 4assists 5to's 3 stls 2 points.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

Wes and Dwill combine today for...

48mins 0-14fg 6rebs 4assists 5to's 3 stls 2 points.

Yeah, I still think bringing Williams off the bench is something to consider. He just looks irritated that he has to put in the effort.

[turin]

Nice. Hit free throws and game over.

[Underdog]

I'll take the rare win on the early start.