The Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks match player stats tell a wild story from Wednesday night in Dallas. One point separated these teams after 48 minutes of basketball that had American Airlines Center rocking.
Minnesota 115, Dallas 114. That final score barely captures what went down.
Table of Contents
Setting the Scene at American Airlines Center
Walking into the arena Wednesday night, you could feel something was off. The Mavs warmups looked different without Luka Dončić running through his routine. No Dereck Lively II protecting the rim during drills. Even Klay Thompson was missing, nursing an ankle injury.
The crowd of 20,025 still brought energy though. They knew Kyrie Irving would have to carry the load. And boy, did he try.
Game Essentials
Final: Minnesota 115, Dallas 114
Date: January 22, 2025
Venue: American Airlines Center
Records: Both teams 23-21 (tied 7th in West)
Quarter by Quarter: A Basketball Rollercoaster
Dallas jumped out early, taking the first quarter 22 to 17. The home crowd sensed an upset brewing. But Minnesota flipped the script in quarter two, dropping 38 points and outscoring Dallas by seven.
The Wolves took a slim 55 to 53 lead into halftime after closing on a 14 to 4 run. Third quarter stayed tight with Minnesota extending slightly. Then Dallas made their move in the fourth, outscoring the Wolves 32 to 29 and nearly stealing it.
Jaden McDaniels Steps Into the Spotlight
Nobody saw this coming from McDaniels. The forward dropped a career high 27 points on 10 of 18 shooting. But his biggest moment came with three seconds left. After grabbing a crucial defensive rebound off Irving’s missed three, McDaniels got fouled. He calmly sank one of two free throws to ice it.
Minnesota’s Key Performers
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG-FGA | 3P-3PA | FT-FTA | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaden McDaniels | 39:43 | 27 | 10-18 | 1-5 | 6-8 | 8 | 0 |
| Anthony Edwards | 36:30 | 21 | 6-19 | 2-7 | 7-8 | 5 | 7 |
| Mike Conley | 32:00 | 18 | 6-9 | 4-6 | 2-2 | 5 | 8 |
| Julius Randle | 33:51 | 16 | 4-13 | 1-2 | 7-8 | 6 | 3 |
| Rudy Gobert | 30:25 | 14 | 3-4 | 0-0 | 8-8 | 6 | 2 |
McDaniels also grabbed four steals and swatted three shots. His two way impact changed the game. With the score 101 to 100 and Dallas surging, McDaniels buried a corner three. Next possession, he rebounded a Spencer Dinwiddie miss and found Edwards for a bucket. Just like that, Minnesota had breathing room again.
Irving’s Heroic Effort Falls Short
Kyrie Irving played like a man possessed. The veteran guard poured in 36 points on 12 of 21 shooting, including 4 of 11 from deep. Perfect from the free throw line too, going 8 for 8. He passed 18,000 career points during this masterpiece.
Irving hit a running 3 at the buzzer after McDaniels’ free throw, but it only cut the final margin to one. His late game heroics included a three pointer with 22.3 seconds left that pulled Dallas within 112 to 111.
Dallas Statistical Leaders
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG-FGA | 3P-3PA | FT-FTA | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyrie Irving | 38:13 | 36 | 12-21 | 4-11 | 8-8 | 4 | 9 |
| P.J. Washington Jr. | 36:07 | 30 | 12-22 | 1-5 | 5-7 | 7 | 1 |
| Spencer Dinwiddie | 31:35 | 13 | 5-13 | 1-4 | 2-2 | 3 | 1 |
| Daniel Gafford | 32:46 | 12 | 5-11 | 0-0 | 2-4 | 10 | 1 |
P.J. Washington stepped up huge with a season high 30 points. The forward took 22 shots and made them count. With Dončić out, somebody had to help Irving shoulder the scoring load. Washington answered that call.
The Free Throw Line Told the Story
Look at these numbers. Minnesota shot 34 free throws. Dallas? Just 19. The Wolves made 30 of theirs while the Mavs converted 16.
That’s a 14 point gap from the charity stripe in a game decided by one. Sometimes basketball really is that simple.
Team Stats That Mattered
| Category | Minnesota | Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 45.7% | 50.0% |
| 3-Point % | 37.9% | 27.6% |
| Points in Paint | 48 | 66 |
| Fast Break Points | 25 | 8 |
| Points off Turnovers | 22 | 14 |
Dallas actually shot better overall and dominated the paint 66 to 48. Credit their aggression without their starting center. But Minnesota’s transition game (25 to 8 advantage) and ability to convert turnovers into points made up the difference.
Missing Pieces, Missing Wins
The Mavericks are 4-11 since superstar Luka Doncic was sidelined with a calf strain early in their Christmas Day loss to these same Timberwolves. That record shows how much Dallas needs their MVP candidate healthy.
The Mavericks announced before the game that center Dereck Lively II has a stress fracture in his right ankle and will be re-evaluated in a month. Add Thompson’s ankle sprain and you understand why Dallas entered as home underdogs.
Conley’s Veteran Savvy
Mike Conley might not grab headlines, but his efficiency was ridiculous. The point guard scored 18 points on just nine shots, hitting 4 of 6 threes. Eight assists. Zero turnovers. Plus 19 rating led all players.
Two free throws by Mike Conley gave Minnesota a 114-111 lead with 11.8 seconds left. Those proved massive in such a tight finish.
The Wild Final Sequence
Clock showing 11.8 seconds. Conley at the line for Minnesota. Nails both shots for a three point cushion. Dallas calls timeout to set up Irving.
The Mavs star gets a decent look from three. Misses. McDaniels crashes the glass and secures the board. Immediately fouled. Three seconds left.
First free throw rattles home. Second one rims out. Irving races up court and launches from near halfcourt as the buzzer sounds. Swish. Too little, too late.
What We Learned
Minnesota showed they can win ugly. Six players scored double figures, proving their depth. McDaniels announcing himself as more than just a defensive specialist gives them another dimension.
For Dallas, this loss stings but shows fight. Irving and Washington combining for 66 points kept them alive all night. When healthy, this team remains dangerous. Right now though, they’re just trying to stay afloat without their best player.
Looking at Advanced Numbers
True shooting percentage highlights efficiency. Rudy Gobert posted an absurd 93.1% by making all eight free throws. Conley’s 91.1% came from his hot three point shooting. Irving’s 73.4% on massive volume shows why he’s elite.
Usage rates reveal who carried the offensive burden. Edwards led Minnesota at 31.4% despite his poor shooting night. For Dallas, Washington (31.7%) and Irving (30.5%) basically played two on five at times.
FAQs
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Final Thoughts
Wednesday night’s Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks match player stats showcase why we love this game. Heroes emerge when you least expect them. McDaniels picked the perfect night for his best offensive performance. Irving nearly willed Dallas to victory despite missing his running mates.
One point. Nine lead changes. Pure January basketball drama in Dallas. For complete NBA coverage and detailed game breakdowns, check out Match vs Player Stats for comprehensive analysis all season long.
Sources: ESPN NBA Game Recap, NBA.com Official Stats, NBC Sports Game Preview
