NBA Game Preview: Dallas Mavericks (7-4) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8-3)

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Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN (nationally televised on NBA TV)

Current Rosters (key rotation players)

Dallas Mavericks (Head Coach: Dusty May): Kyrie Irving, Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, Max Christie, Zaccharie Risacher, Santi Aldama, Caleb Martin, Marcus Sasser, Morez Johnson Jr., plus depth. Dereck Lively II remains sidelined.

Minnesota Timberwolves (Head Coach: Chris Finch): LaMelo Ball, Ayo Dosunmu, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, Rudy Gobert, Terrence Shannon Jr., Bones Hyland, Trey Lyles, Joan Beringer, plus others. Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo are out.

Injury Report

Mavericks: Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery) — Out; Tarik Biberovic (right heel bursitis) — Out; Sergio de Larrea (right knee sprain) — Out; Morez Johnson Jr. (left shin/tibia contusion) — Probable. Caleb Martin is available (thumb splint).

Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards (right knee arthroscopy) — Out; Donte DiVincenzo (right Achilles repair/surgery) — Out. Joan Beringer is available (playing with a face mask after a nasal fracture).

Recent Team Forms

Mavericks (7-4): Riding a three-game winning streak, capped by a 125-122 victory over Indiana on Monday in which Cooper Flagg exploded for 43 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists, with Kyrie Irving adding 35. They rank solidly offensively and have shown resilience. Flagg has emerged as a primary scoring and playmaking force in his early career.

Timberwolves (8-3): On a four-game winning streak (including recent wins over Milwaukee, Houston, New Orleans, and Utah). Despite missing Edwards for most of the season, they have thrived with strong defense, rebounding (league-leading territory), and balanced scoring from LaMelo Ball (~18.3 ppg), Ayo Dosunmu (~18.1), Jaden McDaniels (~17.0), and contributions from Kuminga and Gobert’s interior presence. They are 4-1 at home.

Key Player Matchups

Cooper Flagg / Kyrie Irving vs. LaMelo Ball / Ayo Dosunmu: Primary creators and scorers. Flagg’s size, scoring burst (coming off 43), and playmaking against Ball’s vision and shooting; Irving’s craftiness vs. Dosunmu’s two-way play.

P.J. Washington / Naji Marshall vs. Jaden McDaniels / Jonathan Kuminga: Wing and forward physicality/defense. McDaniels’ length and two-way impact vs. Washington’s scoring/rebounding.

Daniel Gafford / Morez Johnson Jr. (if available) vs. Rudy Gobert: Interior battle. Gobert’s elite rebounding and rim protection against Gafford’s athleticism and finishing; Minnesota’s size advantage could be key on the glass.

Secondary: Perimeter shooting and transition opportunities, with both teams capable of high-efficiency offense.

Minnesota’s defensive identity and home rebounding edge will be tested by Dallas’ star-powered attack led by the hot Flagg-Irving duo.

Series History

Minnesota has dominated recent meetings. In the last 10 head-to-head games, the Timberwolves hold a strong edge (roughly 7-3 or better in some tallies), including a 124-94 road win in Dallas on March 30, 2026, and other decisive victories. Earlier matchups have been competitive at times, but Minnesota has generally controlled the series lately.

Betting Trends

Minnesota has been excellent ATS early (near-perfect in some reports); Dallas is also solid ATS. The line has moved slightly toward Minnesota in some books. Home favorites without their superstar but with strong supporting play and defensive metrics often perform well against road teams on streaks. thespread.com

Minnesota’s home advantage, defensive structure, rebounding dominance, and balanced attack should edge out a talented but thinner Mavericks side on the road. Flagg and Irving will keep Dallas competitive and capable of a big night, but the Wolves’ collective play and recent success without Edwards give them the slight edge in a competitive Western Conference matchup.

Game Odds

Dallas Mavericks                              226.5

Minnesota Timberwolves            – 6

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Wednesday, November 11, 2026

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