‘They Were Physical From The Start’: Dallas Mavericks Fall Short-Handed As Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves Take Control

The Dallas Mavericks spent most of Wednesday night attempting to stabilize a game that tilted out of their control almost immediately. Against a Minnesota team that set a physical tone from the opening possession, Dallas struggled to find offensive rhythm, balance floor spacing, or sustain momentum as injuries once again reshaped the rotation.

Julius Randle scored 31 points, Naz Reid added 23 off the bench, and the Minnesota Timberwolves never trailed in a 118-105 win over a short-handed Dallas team at American Airlines Center.

Minnesota led for all but 26 seconds and steadily imposed its will behind Randle’s physical scoring and efficient shot selection. Randle finished 12 of 21 from the field and made all seven of his free throws, continuing a familiar pattern against his hometown team. He has now scored at least 21 points in 11 of his last 12 games against Dallas.

The Timberwolves entered the night with momentum after snapping a five-game losing streak earlier in the week and followed that up with a second straight win. Anthony Edwards added 20 points, while Minnesota’s balance on both ends prevented Dallas from generating sustained runs.

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Physical Defense Disrupts Dallas Early

From the opening tip, Dallas struggled to generate clean looks as Minnesota crowded ball handlers, cut off driving lanes, and denied early catch-and-shoot opportunities. The pressure was especially noticeable on Max Christie, who entered the night in strong form but was forced into difficult shots and rushed decisions.

Christie, who had scored at least 20 points in four straight games, was held to nine points on 1-of-8 shooting as Minnesota repeatedly loaded up on him without allowing Dallas to consistently punish the coverage elsewhere.

After the game, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd explained that Minnesota’s defensive approach immediately dictated the tone and put Dallas on its heels before the offense could settle.

“They played off the dribble. A lot of times the catch-and-shoot wasn’t there. They were physical,” Kidd said. “With Max, early on, right from the start, and then we started off with turnovers right off the bat. That didn’t help us.”

With Klay Thompson sidelined due to left knee soreness, Christie became the primary perimeter option, drawing added defensive attention throughout the night. Kidd said Dallas failed to adjust quickly enough to create advantages off that pressure, particularly through ball movement.

“No, I think you’ve got to expect shooting at a high clip for us,” Kidd said. “So being physical with him, we have to be able to use him to set screens. We just didn’t — our passing wasn’t good enough to take advantage of that. You’ve got to be able to pass it to take advantage of some of the open guys, and we just didn’t do that today.”

Julius Randle Exploits Midrange, Naz Reid Ends Dallas Mavericks’ Push

As Dallas searched for offensive answers, Randle consistently capitalized when space was available, particularly in the midrange. Minnesota repeatedly found him in comfortable spots, and Dallas struggled to disrupt his rhythm once he established it.

Kidd said Randle’s efficiency and shot selection made him difficult to slow once he got going.

“Yeah, he was good offensively,” Kidd said. “He seemed like he made every shot. He took the mid-range shots that were given, and he capitalized on that. He tends to play well when he comes back home.”

Dallas briefly showed signs of life late in the third quarter, cutting a 16-point deficit to eight behind improved energy and defensive activity. But the momentum was fleeting.

Naz Reid immediately halted the push with a 3-pointer to open a decisive 12-3 Minnesota run, restoring control and pushing the lead back into double digits. The Timberwolves carried a 92-75 advantage into the fourth quarter, then extended it to 106-91 after Reid hit a short jumper and another 3 early in the final period.

Reid finished with eight rebounds and three steals, repeatedly ending Dallas possessions and ensuring the Mavericks could not string together a late rally.

Short-Handed Dallas Mavericks Search for Offensive Answers

Dallas once again played without several core pieces. Rookie No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg sat out for left ankle injury management on the first night of a back-to-back. Thompson remained out with left knee soreness, while Anthony Davis continues to be sidelined with a hand injury. Kyrie Irving has yet to play this season after tearing his ACL last March.

Kidd said Dallas must be quicker to respond when opponents load up defensively.

“We should be able to adjust quickly,” Kidd said. “Being able to set good screens and try to get Max open. But the passing has to play a part in that — being able to get the ball to him in time. Tonight we just weren’t able to do that.”

Kidd said Dallas needs to improve how quickly it adjusts when teams load up on Christie.

“We should be able to adjust quickly,” Kidd said. “Being able to set good screens and try to get Max open. But the passing has to play a part in that — being able to get the ball to him in time. Tonight we just weren’t able to do that.”

P.J. Washington Finds Rhythm After Halftime

Despite the uneven offensive night overall, P.J. Washington provided a needed lift after halftime. After a quiet first half, Washington found his rhythm by attacking more decisively and finished with all 21 of his points coming after the break.

Washington said the adjustment was largely mental, emphasizing the importance of staying aggressive even when early shots do not fall.

“Just come out and be more aggressive,” Washington said. “I was real passive. I’m not at my best when I’m like that, so my teammates encouraged me to come out and be aggressive.”

Washington also acknowledged the difficulty of rediscovering rhythm after extended time away from the court, particularly within a lineup that has continued to change due to injuries.

“It’s been tough,” he said. “Obviously we haven’t really played basketball a lot the past couple months, so just trying to get a rhythm back, get our conditioning back, get a feel for everybody out there. They’ve been playing great, so just trying to add to it and find ourselves within that. Tonight felt a little bit better for me, and I’m just happy to be back out there.”

Working through injuries, Washington said, has required as much mental resilience as physical recovery.

“It’s tough, but it’s part of the game,” Washington said. “You can’t get mad at it. It was a freak accident, so I’m not upset about it. I’m just trying to work through it, be professional, strengthen my ankle back up, and come out here and be the best version of myself.”

When asked whether he feels close to full strength, Washington answered without hesitation.

“I don’t have no pain,” he said.

Dallas Mavericks Point to Execution and Health Moving Forward

Washington said Dallas’ offensive struggles are not limited to any single matchup or player, but rather stem from execution, spacing, and collective decision-making.

“We’ve got to get more shots and create more open threes for each other,” he said. “That comes from getting stops, getting out in transition, breaking down the defense in the half court, and finding guys and making the right plays.”

With Minnesota consistently loading up on Christie, Washington said collective execution becomes even more critical.

“I think it’s more about respect,” Washington said. “He’s been playing his butt off — he’s one of the best shooters in the league — so every team is going to do that. He’ll adjust and be better, but we’ve got to do a better job helping him, taking some pressure off him, and creating some easy ones.”

Washington also pointed to Davis’ presence as a reminder of what the group can look like when healthy.

“Just being the beast that he is,” Washington said. “Getting into his sweet spots every night, being aggressive, being a leader, making the right play every time, killing mismatches — that’s what he does best. I’m very proud of him. I love playing with him. We’re brothers out there.”

‘Next-Man-Up’ Mentality Tested by Injuries

Both Washington and Naji Marshall emphasized perseverance as the defining theme of a season shaped by injuries and constant adjustments.

“It’s been tough,” Washington said. “We’ve dealt with a lot of injuries the past two seasons. For us, it’s a next-man-up mentality. Everybody’s trying to do their part and keep the ship sailing.”

Marshall echoed that sentiment while taking on an expanded role within the rotation.

“It’s been tough,” Marshall said. “We’ve dealt with a lot of injuries, but it’s been next-man-up for us. Everybody’s trying to do their part and keep things steady. We come in every day, put our hard hats on, and go to war.”

Marshall said matching Randle’s physicality required an aggressive mindset.

“Shit — be aggressive,” Marshall said. “He already has the advantage. He’s stronger and taller than me. He did the same thing to me a few times, so I was just trying to match his energy.”

Marshall also highlighted Caleb Martin’s defensive impact since joining the starting lineup.

“Unbelievable,” Marshall said. “The work speaks for itself. That’s what he does — guarding the best player every night. He helps me and P.J. a lot.”

Up Next

Dallas dropped to 19-28 with the loss and will look to regroup quickly as it completes a back-to-back at home Thursday against Charlotte, continuing to navigate injuries and rotation challenges.

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