The Dallas Mavericks (0-1) faced a tough loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves (1-0) in a preseason matchup held in Abu Dhabi, with the Timberwolves emerging victorious with a final score of 111-99.

 

Karl-Anthony Towns played a leading role for the Timberwolves, contributing 20 points in just 17 minutes. Despite the defeat, Luka Doncic delivered an impressive performance for the Mavericks, scoring 25 points.

 

The 2023-24 preseason opener was a challenging start for Dallas, as they struggled to find their shooting rhythm and showed limited interest in defensive play. Within the first few minutes of the game, the Mavericks found themselves trailing 22-5, with Doncic being the sole contributor to their field goals. Karl Towns and Rudy Gobert dominated the paint and boards, putting the Mavericks on the defensive. Dallas began to find some offensive flow later in the first quarter, but their defensive efforts remained lacking. As a result, they ended the first period with a significant deficit, trailing the Timberwolves 37-19.

 

The second quarter did not bring significant improvement for Dallas, although they finally managed to make some three-pointers after missing their initial 14 attempts. Grant Williams connected on consecutive three-pointers, prompting a Timberwolves timeout midway through the quarter. Dallas struggled to narrow the gap throughout the frame and ended the first half behind by a score of 66-49.

 

During the second half, with the starters on the bench, Dallas had the opportunity to explore their roster further. Jaden Hardy and Josh Green led a resurgence, reducing the Mavericks’ deficit to 12 points. The appearance of Richaun Holmes also made a positive impact, with a well-executed mid-range hook shot and a defensive steal. Despite their efforts to close the gap to single digits, the Timberwolves, led by Naz Reid, regained control, and Dallas entered the fourth quarter trailing 87-74.

 

The final quarter primarily featured end-of-bench and training camp players. Jelly Walker made a couple of shots for the Mavericks, but Luka Garza had an outstanding performance for the Timberwolves, extending their lead in an attempt to secure the victory. Despite a late push by Walker, A.J. Lawson, and Joe Wieskamp, the Timberwolves maintained their lead following a timeout, ultimately securing a 111-99 win.