Minnesota Timberwolves show say dem no dey joke for defense as dem beat Dallas Mavericks 133-94 for Target Center, ending Dallas three-game winning streak and dropping their record to 7-5.
The win na Minnesota sixth straight, and dem do am without injured superstar Anthony Edwards, who dey out with right knee issue. The Timberwolves now move to 9-3 and dem still dey cope well without their main man.
Dallas coach Dusty May no hide say the better team win. ‘Give Minnesota credit,’ e talk. ‘Their point-of-attack defense, their activity on and off the ball was extremely disruptive. They deserved to win the way they did tonight.’
The Mavericks never really find rhythm. E be first time this season dem fail to reach 100 points. Dem shoot below 40 percent most of the night until fourth quarter when deep reserves enter for both sides. Minnesota, meanwhile, hover around 60 percent shooting all night and lead by as much as 122-79 midway through fourth before e reach 129-85 shortly after.
Minnesota defense set the tone. The Wolves come into the game with No. 1 overall defensive rating for NBA, while Dallas don rise into top 10 defensive ranking over last week. But only Minnesota fit impose their will. May point to Minnesota size, athleticism and competitive spirit, plus Rudy Gobert presence at rim as big problem.
‘They do a great job guarding one-on-one,’ May talk. ‘They have the size, the athleticism, the competitive spirit about them. And obviously, you have Rudy to be disruptive at the rim. He has great instincts around the rim.’
May still see some positives early. E talk say for first half Dallas play well but give Minnesota some easy baskets, and that kind mistake make life hard. ‘You can’t give them the baskets off of your mistakes. You got to make them earn them,’ e add. ‘You can’t get outhustled and things like that.’
For Dallas, the night end as one to flush emotionally as dem start three-game trip with heavy defeat.
