The Minnesota Timberwolves are eyeing a crucial opportunity to catch up with the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference standings when they face off Wednesday night.
It’s a game that could shake up the playoff race, with both teams sitting at similar records in the tight Western Conference.
The Mavs are dealing with some serious injury troubles. Their superstar Luka Doncic won’t be suiting up – he’s been out since getting hurt against these same Timberwolves on Christmas Day. Without him, Dallas has really struggled, going just 4-10.
Kyrie Irving has been trying to pick up the slack. He’s putting up some solid numbers in Doncic’s absence – about 25 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds per game.
The good news for Dallas fans? Doncic should be back before the All-Star break, probably within the next couple weeks.
But Wednesday’s game won’t wait for Luka. The Mavericks are somehow still slight favorites (-2.5) despite missing several key players. Besides Doncic, they’ve got question marks around Dereck Lively II, Klay Thompson, and a few others dealing with various injuries.
The Timberwolves, meanwhile, are pretty healthy. They’re only missing Donte DiVincenzo and Terrence Shannon Jr.
These teams have split their two meetings this season, making this rubber match even more interesting. The Christmas Day game stands out – that’s when Doncic got hurt.
Minnesota’s been cold lately, winning just once in their last four games. But they’ve got a real chance to turn things around here.
You can catch the action at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN or NBC Sports. The game’s happening at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
For those keeping score at home, a Wolves win would pull them even with Dallas at 23-21 in the standings – pretty significant as we head toward the season’s halfway point.
Given Dallas’s injury situation and Minnesota’s healthier roster, the Wolves might just have the edge they need to snap their recent skid.
