Reggie Bullock returned to the floor after missing the last four days for personal reasons and was decisive in the Dallas Mavericks’ tight win over the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-110.
The forward had 18 points and six three-pointers converted, including a key one in the final stretch of the match. For his part, Luka Doncic added 15 points and 10 assists, although with a 5 of 17 shooting; and his teammate Dwight Powell emerged as their team’s top scorer with 22 points and a perfect 8 of 8 shooting from the field.
The Mavs avoided falling three days in a row, and in the process stopped the streak of some Timberwolves who came very strong. Those of Chris Finch added four wins in a row and ten in the last eleven days they had played.
“We are in mid-March and we know what we are playing for. Plus, Minnesota is a hot team right now,” Jason Kidd said.
With their victory, the Texans are placed fifth in the West (44-28) in a single match of the Utah Jazz (45-27). For their part, the T-Wolves (42-31) fall out of the direct positions for the Playoffs instead of the Denver Nuggets (42-30).
Karl Anthony-Towns was the best exponent of the visitors with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals; and even three of his teammates added double figures: Anthony Edwards (19); D’Angelo Russell (18) and Taurean Prince (17).
With 2.5 seconds to go, Luka Doncic fouled Patrick Beverley. The Minnesotan converted the first free throw and missed the second on purpose, but his team couldn’t catch the rebound and the game ended with the locals taking the slightest.
«We talked about what he had to do, and Luka executed that foul after the jump between two. Because if he doesn’t do it, the way things were, Beverley was going to hit that three-pointer,” Kidd acknowledged.
One last interesting tidbit is that the Mavericks haven’t had six players in double-digit scoring since April 4, 1989, according to ESPN Stats. Powell had 22; Bullock (18); Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Doncic 15 each; and Spencer Dinwiddie contributed 20 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists off the bench.
(Cover photo: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)