Naz Reid delivered an impressive performance, scoring a season-high 27 points, 19 of which came in the first half, aiding the Minnesota Timberwolves in overcoming an early 15-point deficit to defeat Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks 119-101 during Thurssday’s NBA action. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed significantly with 21 points and a season-best 17 rebounds.
This victory elevated the Timberwolves to the top of the NBA standings, sharing the best record with Boston at 18-5. They bounced back strongly from their recent 121-107 defeat at New Orleans.
Wolves coach Chris Finch praised the team’s ability to quickly refocus after a loss, preventing any negative carryover into subsequent games.
“They refocus fast,” Finch said. “They don’t really let one performance bleed into the next.”
Doncic had a standout game for the Mavericks with 39 points and 13 rebounds, continuing his streak of scoring at least 30 points in nine consecutive games. Despite this, the Timberwolves managed to contain the Mavericks to one of their lowest-scoring games of the season, especially from the perimeter.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Anthony Edwards, returning to the Timberwolves’ lineup after an injury, contributed nine points. Edwards, the team’s leading scorer, who averaged 24.4 points per game, had missed three of the previous five games.
Reid’s performance was highlighted by a career-best seven 3-pointers, equalling a franchise record for a reserve player. This marked the third time this season that someone other than Edwards or Towns led the team in scoring.
“You love to see all the guys trying to get me the ball,” Reid said. “I think with the firepower on this team, anybody can have a crazy night like that.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
The Mavericks were without Kyrie Irving for the third consecutive game due to a foot injury. They held a one-point lead at halftime, thanks to Doncic’s 26 points, but struggled in the second half, particularly in 3-point shooting.
Doncic also faced some frustration during the game, receiving a technical foul in the first half and having a 3-pointer wiped off the board at halftime after a review showed he was out of bounds.
“If the refs don’t call it, they can go back and check?” Doncic said. “That’s the first time I saw that.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Dallas coach Jason Kidd acknowledged the challenge of facing the Timberwolves, commending Minnesota’s performance and noting the Mavericks’ difficulties in shooting from deep.
“It’s just one of those nights,” Kidd said. “We got great looks. Minnesota’s the best team in the league. We thought we were playing well. Give them credit.”
The Timberwolves are set to host Indiana next, while the Mavericks will face Portland in their upcoming games.
