Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks: Odds, injuries, what to watch for

The Minnesota Timberwolves put their three-game winning streak on the line against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night at Target Center.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks: Odds, injuries, what to watch for

Amid something of an Omicron/COVID-19 outbreak across the NBA, the short-handed Timberwolves will play host to the short-handed Mavericks on Sunday.

The Wolves will be without Anthony Edwards and Taurean Prince, while the Mavs’ list of absent players is much longer, and for a variety of reasons.

Minnesota has won three consecutive games, including blowing out LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. The Mavs haven’t played since Wednesday when they were defeated in overtime on a last-second 3-pointer by Austin Reaves of those same Lakers.

The Mavs sit at 14-14 and have been on a prolonged 5-10 slide after starting the season 9-4. Luka Doncic has missed the last three games with an ankle injury and won’t play on Sunday, either.

Minnesota Timberwolves odds vs. Dallas Mavericks

The Wolves are three-point favorites according to our friends at WynnBet. Given the Wolves’ impressive play of late, playing on their home floor, and the Mavs’ much longer injury list, it makes sense.

TV and streaming info for Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks

• Tip-off: 7:00 CT
• Television: Bally Sports North
• Radio: 830 WCCO
• Stream: Fubo.tv offers streaming options

What to watch for in Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks

For the last couple of years, the Mavericks have been something of a better version of the Timberwolves.

Previously, the Mavs were good offensively, atrocious defensively, and generally underachieved. This year, the Mavs have struggled on offense, hoisting a ton of 3-pointers without much success, and surprisingly decent on defense. Oh, and they’re underachieving once again.

Sure, the major difference is that the Mavs still went 42-30 last year and made the playoffs while the Wolves were the fifth-worst team in the NBA, but both teams have hovered around .500 to this point in the current season.

The Mavs are No. 5 in the league in 3-point attempts per game but No. 25 in percentage from deep. They are the third-slowest team in terms of pace, however, which is a departure from the Wolves’ style of play.

The Mavericks are a strong defensive rebounding team, which will likely play out as a stark contrast to the feast that Jarred Vanderbilt and the Wolves had against the Lakers on the offensive glass on Friday night.

Of course, with at least five rotation players expected to be missing for the Mavericks, things may look a little differently on Sunday.

Injury report for Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks

The Wolves are without both Edwards and Prince due to health and safety protocols. Both two-way players, McKinley Wright IV and Nathan Knight, are with the Iowa Wolves of the G League.

The Mavericks are without Doncic (ankle), Frank Ntilikina (illness), Reggie Bullock (health and safety protocols), Willie Cauley-Stein (personal reasons), and Josh Green (illness). Sterling Brown is listed as probable with a foot injury.

We’ll be back after the game with key takeaways and player grades. Enjoy the game, and here’s to 15-15!