Much of the outside chatter around the Minnesota Timberwolves this season focused on the front office’s decision to trade size for athleticism.
The team sent Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets, and it shipped Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets in a deal that brought back point guard LaMelo Ball. Minnesota boosted the power-forward position by adding Jonathan Kuminga late in the offseason.
The strategy is working well so far. The smaller-but-tougher Timberwolves will look to build upon their early-season success when they tip off against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night in Minneapolis.
“Coming into the season, a lot of people thought we were probably going to be small,” Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland said. “Maybe on paper. But I don’t think we are when we check into the game.
“We like to muck up the game, we like to get it to our offensive players, and we’re just trying to help the bigs out with the rebounds too. I think we’re just pests on the floor, just trying to be pests as best as we can.”
Those pests have won eight of 11 games to start the season, despite missing star guard Anthony Edwards for the past seven games and counting because of a knee injury. Minnesota is riding a four-game winning streak, including a 115-100 win over the Utah Jazz in its most recent contest Sunday evening.
Dallas also enters Thursday’s matchup on a hot streak. The Mavericks have won three games in a row, including a 125-122 decision over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
In his first season as coach, Dusty May has guided the Mavericks to a 7-4 start.
Second-year standout Cooper Flagg has been a big reason for the Mavericks’ winning record. Flagg is coming off a 43-point, 10-rebound performance against the Pacers, and he is averaging 25.9 points per game on 50.0% shooting from the field this season.
“He gets to the rim,” May said. “I think him almost being a left-handed player in the paint certainly helps. He’s a great left-footed jumper, left-handed finisher. And then he’s able to square in the air from 15, 17 feet. He can just get to his spots and if there’s a smaller guy, he can jump and square in the air over him.
“The last couple games, he’s made some 3s and he’s making all his free throws. That’s how you put up 43 points – when you do a little bit of everything. … He affects the game in so many ways. He makes the right plays as far as passing. Thank goodness he’s on our team. It’s unbelievable he’s a 19-year-old doing this.”
Kyrie Irving ranks second on the Mavericks with 22.9 points per game, and P.J. Washington is third with 14.6 points per contest.
After the injured Edwards, Ball is the Timberwolves’ top scorer with 18.3 points per game. Ayo Dosunmu (18.1) and Jaden McDaniels (17.0) are close behind, and Rudy Gobert leads the team with 12.1 rebounds.
Ball praised Dosunmu for helping the Timberwolves set the pace this season.
“Ayo is a track star,” Ball said. “He definitely gets out and runs, and I love people who get out and run. He’s easy to play with.”
