Mavericks 104, Timberwolves 96
Dirk Nowitzki had 30 points and 11 rebounds and the host Dallas Mavericks registered a 104-96 victory over the upset-minded Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
Jason Terry scored 18 points, Shawn Marion had 17 and Peja Stojakovic 16 as Dallas (50-21) won for just the third time in six games.
Anthony Randolph scored a career-best 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Minnesota (17-55), which has lost five straight.
Minnesota led 94-93 after Wayne Ellington’s basket with 3:17 remaining, but Dallas went back ahead on Tyson Chandler’s three-point play with 2:38 to play. Terry hit a 3-pointer with 55.9 seconds left to give the Mavericks a five-point lead as part of a game-ending 11-2 run.
Randolph made 14-of-20 shots while filling in for Kevin Love, who didn’t make the road trip due to a groin injury. Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis told reporters before the game that it was possible Love might miss the rest of the season.
Jonny Flynn scored 13 points and Michael Beasley added 12 for Minnesota.
Randolph had 23 first-half points as the Timberwolves trailed 49-47 at intermission.