The Dallas Mavericks entered Target Center with a thin rotation, tired legs and their entire frontcourt unavailable, and the Minnesota Timberwolves immediately exposed those weaknesses in a 120\u201396 loss Monday night. <\/p>\n
Naz Reid<\/a> scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, leading a balanced Minnesota attack that featured 15 points apiece from Jaden McDaniels<\/a> and Rudy Gobert<\/a>. Anthony Edwards<\/a> added 13 points on a subdued 5-of-14 shooting night.<\/p>\n Minnesota broke the game open behind a decisive third-quarter surge, highlighted by McDaniels hitting three straight 3-pointers as the Timberwolves controlled the boards, forced turnovers and dictated pace. Dallas shot just 9-of-30 from deep, continuing a season-long slump, and struggled to generate rhythm without Anthony Davis<\/a>, Daniel Gafford<\/a> or Dereck Lively II<\/a> available. <\/p>\n The Mavericks were out-rebounded 60\u201342 and committed 19 turnovers that became 24 Minnesota points, falling to 4\u201311 on the season.<\/p>\n The loss underscored the mounting challenges Dallas faces without its top three centers, with Moussa Ciss\u00e9 making his first career start in an emergency role. Minnesota improved to 9\u20135 with the win, while Dallas remained winless against opponents with winning records.<\/p>\n Jason Kidd Addresses Fatigue, Turnovers and Lack of Consistency<\/p>\n Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd<\/a> said Minnesota dictated the tempo and physicality from the start, capitalizing on the Mavericks\u2019 depleted rotation.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were aggressive, give them credit. They came out and pressured us and we turned the ball over too many times against a talented team. We also didn\u2019t play up to our standards on the defensive end,\u201d Kidd said.<\/p>\n Kidd noted that two overtime games over the previous three days left the team drained, and foul trouble forced additional stress on limited lineups.<\/p>\n \u201cThe guys gave effort. We\u2019re a couple guys down, so Lu is starting, he\u2019s trying, DP, and then we got in a little foul trouble. I\u2019ll look at this, hopefully get some rest, and then get ready for Wednesday,\u201d Kidd said.<\/p>\n The turnovers were costly and recurring.<\/p>\n \u201cFatigue is a big part of it, but also playing a good team. Minnesota\u2019s a good team, and they pressured us. We committed some turnovers. We can say it\u2019s fatigue, but also we have to be better with the ball. No matter if we\u2019re tired or not, we\u2019ve turned the ball over a lot this season. We have to be better,\u201d Kidd said.<\/p>\n Kidd added that Dallas cannot find its stride because injuries continue to force lineup changes on a nightly basis.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is just part of the season. Our health is a big problem. We have guys out for one game, then they\u2019re in on a minutes restriction. So there\u2019s no continuity,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cThere won\u2019t be any continuity. We\u2019re trying to piece this thing together. Give those guys in that locker room credit \u2014 they\u2019re fighting. It\u2019s just what it is right now until we can get healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n P.J. Washington Details Fatigue and Adapting to New Roles<\/p>\n P.J. Washington<\/a> said the Mavericks lacked the energy necessary to match Minnesota\u2019s physicality, pointing to Sunday\u2019s overtime win and the travel that followed.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I mean, obviously we went to overtime last night. Long travel. Kind of sluggish. Felt like we didn\u2019t really have any energy today. But it\u2019s part of the business, part of what we gotta do. We gotta be better. Obviously just a long game and we can learn from it and try to get better from it,\u201d Washington said.<\/p>\n Washington said Dallas never found stability with so many players in unfamiliar positions.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I would say so. A lot of guys out, a lot of guys playing positions they haven\u2019t really played before in the league. Trying to play with new lineups we haven\u2019t really seen together. Just trying to work the game as much as we can, trying to stick with it. Next man up mentality. Nobody\u2019s gonna feel sorry for us. We just gotta go out there and keep fighting,\u201d Washington said.<\/p>\n He added that the team must not let this stretch overshadow what Dallas is trying to build.<\/p>\n \u201cJust stick with it. Things will turn. It\u2019s not gonna rain forever. We gotta stick to our principles and build an identity. Don\u2019t let each and every game get to us. Stick with our principles and things will turn,\u201d Washington said.<\/p>\n Jaden Hardy Breaks Down His Readiness and Moussa Ciss\u00e9\u2019s First Start<\/p>\n