Next Game - Tonight vs. Dallas at Target Center (7:00 p.m.)
The Timberwolves are 1-0 on the season against Dallas having registered an 83-82 win on November 22 at American Airlines Center. Kevin Garnett sank the go-ahead free throws with 5.9 seconds left, and Trenton Hassell blocked a Jerry Stackhouse shot at the buzzer as the Wolves rallied from a 12-point deficit in the final 4:15. Garnett led the Wolves with 21 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists. It marked the lowest-scoring game ever between Minnesota and Dallas - both teams averaged more than 106 points per game in their previous 14 meetings. The Wolves have won seven of the last 11 meetings overall to edge ahead 34-33 in the all-time series. Minnesota is 4-1 in the last five games vs. Dallas at Target Center and 18-15 overall at home.
Tonight's Broadcast
The Timberwolves' tilt vs. the Mavericks will be telecast tonight on Fox Sports Net North beginning at 7:00 p.m. with Tom Hanneman, Jim Petersen and Marney Gellner. Additionally, FSN's pregame show will begin at 6:30 p.m. The game can also be heard on the radio home of the Timberwolves - KFAN-AM 1130 - with Chad Hartman and Billy McKinney starting with the pregame show at 6:30 p.m.
Climbing the Ladder
Latrell Sprewell passed Hall of Famer Jack Twyman for 74th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list on Nov. 26 vs. Memphis. He enters this evening's game needing 47 points to pass Pete Maravich and 98 points to reach the 16,000-point plateau for his career.
Clamping Down
The Wolves outscored Phoenix 28-23 in the fourth quarter of the team’s 97-93 victory on Dec. 3, marking the seventh consecutive game they’d held the advantage in the final 12 minutes of play. Minnesota is limiting opponents to 21.1 points in the fourth quarter over the last eight games. Overall this season, Minnesota is allowing 27.0, 23.6, 22.4, and 26.0 points in the first through fourth periods respectively.
MV3 Revisited
Minnesota has received increased scoring from Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell during the team’s current five-game win streak. The backcourt pair, who last season combined with Kevin Garnett to form the highest scoring trio in the NBA, is tallying 38 points per game while shooting 49.3 percent. In the Wolves’ first 11 games, Cassell and Sprewell averaged 25.0 ppg while shooting 43.9%.