GDT: Mavs vs Timberwolves 02/28/16 6:00pm CT

[Underdog]

Chandler Parsons believes the Dallas Mavericks can't afford any more losses to lesser opponents if they hope to make a run in the Western Conference playoff race.

The Minnesota Timberwolves currently fall into that category, though they're starting to show glimpses of a bright future behind Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Mavericks hope to take care of business with their first back-to-back victories this month Sunday night when the improving Timberwolves go after their sixth win in 10 games.

After overtime losses to Utah and Orlando, Dallas (31-28) hoped to get hot during a six-game stay at American Airlines Center. The Mavs split their first two and nearly suffered another tough defeat Friday before rallying from a 23-point deficit in a 122-116 OT win over Denver.

Parsons led six players in double figures with 27 points and Dirk Nowitzki finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Raymond Felton keyed the comeback, hitting the tying basket with 10.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter and scoring eight of his 16 points in the extra period.

Nowitzki is averaging 23.7 and Wesley Matthews is scoring 17.7 on the homestand.

"We're trying to get that fifth seed, make a run here and be playing the best basketball we have down the stretch," Parsons, who has scored 20 per game in the past 16, told the team's official website. "We can't be giving up many more games to teams that are not as good as us."

The Mavericks, however, have won consecutive games just three times since the calendar flipped to January. As a result, they've fallen into a sixth-place tie with surging Portland.

The Northwest Division-worst Timberwolves qualify as a lesser foe at 19-40, but they have wins over the Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago, Toronto and Boston over this 5-4 stretch.

They pulled off a rally from 14 points down in Saturday's 112-110 victory at New Orleans. Towns finished with 30 points and 15 rebounds, Zach LaVine added 25 points and Andrew Wiggins scored 20 and knocked down the go-ahead free-throws with four seconds left.

"It's our 19th win, and they've all been satisfying," interim coach Sam Mitchell said. "The young guys made plays. It makes you feel good that they're learning and growing."

Towns, the Rookie of the Year favorite, certainly appears to be doing that. He's averaging 22.4 points while shooting 57.2 percent and pulling down 12.1 rebounds over his last 16 games.

LaVine has been more than just a slam dunk champion, scoring 17.3 per game and making 42.6 percent from 3-point range in his past 14. Wiggins has contributed 23 per game over his last 10.

Although they've averaged 109.4 points on 48.7 percent shooting in their past 10 games, the Timberwolves have also surrendered 111.2 and a 47.8 field-goal percentage over that span.

Dallas has won five straight in this series, though the two meetings this season have gone down to the wire. Nowitzki led the way with 29 points in a 93-87 win at Minnesota on Jan. 10 before Parsons had 30 with Nowitzki sidelined in a 106-94 home victory Jan. 20.

Towns led Minnesota with 27 points and 17 rebounds and Wiggins scored 23 in that contest.

The Timberwolves, who have dropped nine of 10 in the second of back-of-back games, are reportedly working on a buyout agreement with veteran shooting guard Kevin Martin.

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400828769

[rimrocker]

We desperately need a blowout win to build some confidence.
I can count on my thumbs the number of BO wins we've had this season.

[EricaLubarsky]

Record-breaking 8th OT victory?

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Record-breaking 8th OT victory?

Would rather save that for another day against a better team.
We just need to take care of business early against these lotto bound teams....especially at home.

[CGM]

...Parsons' words will be heard... although Towns will have a 20pt./20rb. game, the Mavs will beat the F-wolves' team so bad, that the Mavs' bench players will play most of the 4th quarter....

Mavs - 113
F-wolves - 105

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by CGM

...Parsons' words will be heard... although Towns will have a 20pt./20rb. game, the Mavs will beat the F-wolves' team so bad, that the Mavs' bench players will play most of the 4th quarter....

Mavs - 105
F-wolves - 113

So what changed your mind between "Mavs will beat the F-wolves' team so bad, that the Mavs' bench players will play most of the 4th quarter...." and your predicted score?

[Melonhead]

Twolves on a b2b after a great win in NO without Anthony Davis. After the stretch they've been on they are due for a big loss, if the mavs are willing to take advantage of it.

[CGM]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

So what changed your mind between "Mavs will beat the F-wolves' team so bad, that the Mavs' bench players will play most of the 4th quarter...." and your predicted score?

...aaahhhh... the F-wolf got me....!!!! Edited!!!

Thanks!!!!

[Vinsanity]

Originally Posted by CGM

...aaahhhh... the F-wolf got me....!!!! Edited!!!

Thanks!!!!

There's still a problem... you only have us winning by 8

haha I kid

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

Would rather save that for another day against a better team.
We just need to take care of business early against these lotto bound teams....especially at home.

Feel like this could've been posted in a lot of this season's GDTs...

[yahyes]

This game helps start a win streak.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Parsons fav hero is Batman? I'm ok with waiving him now.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Playing really well to start.

[CGM]

Originally Posted by Vinsanity

There's still a problem... you only have us winning by 8

haha I kid

That's because the bench plays most of the 4th, and they are able to "relax"...

[Bryan_Wilson]

I'm afraid to post and jinx what's happening.

[Melonhead]

Oh this is totally going to overtime.

[Skywalker]

Offense has gone cold....17-6 run going back to the end of the first quarter

[yahyes]

Mavs do look real competitive once they go on run n gun mode.

[Underdog]

Just tuned in and noticed we're up by 11 at the half, so my guess is that Minny goes on a 11-0 run to start the 3rd quarter.

[Underdog]

@andytobo: I'm sorry we're missing out on one last Dirk-KG match up because the sarcophagus lid on KG's tomb got stuck this morning

[BPo001]

Originally Posted by Underdog

@andytobo: I'm sorry we're missing out on one last Dirk-KG match up because the sarcophagus lid on KG's tomb got stuck this morning

Has KG suited up against the Mavs at all this year? Don't recall seeing him in the last matchup either.

[Skywalker]

Originally Posted by BPo001

Has KG suited up against the Mavs at all this year? Don't recall seeing him in the last matchup either.

Think he did when we played them in Minny

[EricaLubarsky]

Parsons starting to play like a franchise player

[Bryan_Wilson]

Ok Parsons, You can like Batman all you want buddy.

[EricaLubarsky]

Mavs fans who said "Parsons is overpayed" now saying, "Parsons going to demand too much money on next contract"

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Mavs fans who said "Parsons is overpayed" now saying, "Parsons going to demand too much money on next contract"

Yeah pretty much.

[EricaLubarsky]

Getting demolished on the boards. Keep scoring or there's going to be an issue

[EricaLubarsky]

Jebus, 50-40-100 game

[EricaLubarsky]

Someone's been sipping Steph Curry blood

[EricaLubarsky]

Parsons 29pts, +29

[rimrocker]

Looks like Rick is tightening the rotation which could be good but wonder how that small ball is going to work against better teams.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

Looks like Rick is tightening the rotation which could be good but wonder how that small ball is going to work against better teams.

Waiting for the day Wiggins just demands the ball in cases like that. I don't think he missed a single shot in mid range or on those post ups with our smalls on him.

[EricaLubarsky]

First to 100

[Bryan_Wilson]

Give me Simba Rick.

[rimrocker]

Is Rick giving Charlie one last look?
I'd think he is most likely the next one cut if we sign someone like KMart.
Seems Powell would be playing instead of Charlie.

[Bryan_Wilson]

That ref gonna cause JA to get DNP'd for a week

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

That ref gonna cause JA to get DNP'd for a week

So was Rick making a point to the ref or letting JA know there is a boundary line?

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

So was Rick making a point to the ref or letting JA know there is a boundary line?

I hope it was to the ref but Idk how RC saw it from that angle.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Simba Powell and Mejri want mins

[Skywalker]

Cotdamn Powell