Game Thread: Wolves vs. Mavericks

Hello, Canis Hoopus.

Tonight the Mavericks, owners of the worst record in the NBA at 1-9, are in town looking to spoil the Wolves’ three-game winning streak. Their most recent four-game winning streak was Dec. 7-15, 2012...knocks on wood. Minnesota is 4-0 in one possession games this season; they were 7-10 in those games last year.

Dallas lost last night at home to the Pelicans, while the Wolves have been off for two days after winning in New Orleans on Wednesday night.

Tip-off is set for 7 pm CT and the game is being televised on FSN+ ... the Wild are playing the Blackhawks and I guess that’s more important to play on FSN.

Spread: Wolves +12
Over/Under: 214
Injuries: Seth Curry, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Josh McRoberts are out for Dallas. Justin Patton remains sidelined for the Wolves.

Wolves Notes (h/t to the team for providing these)

• Tonight marks the start of the Wolves’ second of 15 back-to-back games this season; they lost the front and back of the first set to Indiana and Detroit last week. Minnesota played 15 back-to-back games last season, going 4-11 on the front end and 5-10 on the tail end.
• Jimmy Butler is averaging 21.3 ppg in the three games since returning from illness. He has attempted 28 free throws (23-for-28) in the last three games after attempting just three in his first three games. He is tied for fifth in the NBA in steals (2.00 spg) and third in minutes (37.4 mpg). The Wolves are 5-1 with Butler in the lineup.
• Karl-Anthony Towns has recorded a double-double in six games this season (120 career) and has five 20/10 games (78 career). He is tied with Al Jefferson for third place on the Wolves’ all-time double-doubles list (Garnett 607, Love 256). Towns ranks eighth in the NBA in rebounding (11.0 rpg), tied for fourth in blocks (2.00 bpg), 14th in FG accuracy (55.5%) and fourth in double-doubles (6).
• Nemanja Bjelica ranks second in the league in three-point accuracy at 59.1% (13-for-22). He is the only Wolves player to make a three-pointer in all eight of the team’s games this season and has made a trey in 10 straight games overall.
• Jeff Teague is averaging 15.8 ppg, on 45.8% shooting, and 9.0 apg in 34.3 minutes per game over the last four games.
• Taj Gibson is shooting 65.0% (26-for-40) from the field over the last six games and ranks 15th overall in the NBA in that category (55.4%).
• Jamal Crawford ranks sixth on the NBA’s all-time three-pointers made list (2063), seven behind Cleveland’s Kyle Korver (2070). He is tied for seventh in the NBA in free throw percentage at 95.0% (19-for-20) this season and tied for 24th in three-point FG% at 46.7% (14-for-30).
• The Wolves have attempted more free throws than their opponent in all eight games this season and rank sixth in the NBA in free throw attempts at 26.13 per game.

Mavs Notes

• Dallas (1-9) is off to its worst start since starting 1-23 in 1993-94 – the Mavs finished 13-69 that season. The Mavs’ lone win this season was vs. Memphis on Oct. 25.
• The Mavs are shooting 37.9% (123-for-332) from three-point range this season, ranking 11th in the NBA in 3FG% and fifth in makes (12.3 per game). They’ve made at least nine treys in all 10 games.
• Harrison Barnes tallied a season-high 26 points last night in the Mavs’ loss vs. New Orleans. He has scored 20+ points in four games this season, including three times in the last five games.

LET’S KEEP THE WINS COMING...