Naz Reid registered a double-double off the bench with 22 points and 12 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for a 120-96 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night in Minneapolis.
Rudy Gobert added 15 points and nine rebounds for Minnesota, which bounced back from a loss against the Denver Nuggets in its previous game. Jaden McDaniels also scored 15.
Jaden Hardy scored 17 points off the bench to lead Dallas, which lost for the eighth time in the past 10 games. Cooper Flagg scored 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting, and Brandon Williams also scored 15.
The Timberwolves won despite another off night from typical top scorer Anthony Edwards, who scored 13 points on 5-for-14 shooting overall and 1-for-7 shooting from 3-point range.
Minnesota jumped to a 34-21 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Naji Marshall made a basket to cut the Mavericks’ deficit to 21-19 with 3:22 to go in the opening quarter.
The Timberwolves responded by closing the quarter on a 13-2 run. Reid converted a three-point play with a basket and a free throw to start the run, which also included long 3-pointers by Mike Conley and Reid.
Minnesota led 61-44 at the half.
Dallas struggled late in the second quarter just as it struggled late in the second quarter. Washington made two free throws to pull the Mavericks within 49-42 with 3:31 left in the first half, but then the Timberwolves went on a 12-2 run to establish a 17-point advantage.
The Mavericks never recovered as they were outscored 37-22 in the third quarter to fall behind 98-66. The Timberwolves finished the third quarter on a 7-0 run thanks to a tip shot by Jaylen Clark, a dunk by Gobert and another 3-pointer by Reid.
Both teams turned to their reserves in the final minutes.
Hardy provided a bright spot for the Mavericks when he knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers with 4:04 to go and 3:47 to go, respectively.
