Timberwolves at Mavericks
Despite being out of the playoff race, the Dallas Mavericks are not going quietly down the stretch. They will seek their first three-game winning streak since December when they continue a three-game homestand against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Justin Jackson scored 24 points and five others had at least 12 for Dallas in Monday's 122-102 win over Philadelphia to begin the homestand, the Mavericks' third win over a playoff team in a 10-day span. Dallas played its second straight game without star rookie Luka Doncic, who is hampered by a thigh contusion and still considered day-to-day. The Timberwolves wrapped up a 1-3 homestand with a 132-122 loss to Portland on Monday. The visit to Dallas marks the penultimate road game for Minnesota, which is 5-19 away from home against Western Conference teams.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (34-43): Star center Karl-Anthony Towns carried Minnesota through an otherwise difficult season but the big man might be hitting a bit of a wall. He was 6-of-21 from the floor in the loss to the Trail Blazers and is shooting 34.7 percent from the floor over his last four games. Forward Andrew Wiggins is trending in the other direction with seven straight games of 20 points or more.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (31-46): There are just three home games left for Dallas, which means three more chances for the home fans to catch a glimpse of team legend Dirk Nowitzki before he is expected to retire. "If you can get here for the last game, you want to be here for the last game in Dallas," team owner Mark Cuban told the media. "It's going to be a special night whether he likes it or wants it or not." The 40-year-old Nowitzki needs nine rebounds to pass Elgin Baylor (11,463) and move into 26th place on the NBA's all-time list and just 12 boards on the defensive end to become the fifth player in league history with 10,000.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Doncic had 26 points to lead Dallas to a 140-136 win in the first meeting at home on Oct. 20 and then 29 more in a 119-115 victory at Minnesota on Jan. 11.
2. Timberwolves C Gorgui Dieng scored a season-high 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting in the loss to Portland.
3. Mavericks C Salah Mejri notched his sixth career double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds versus Philadelphia.