The Minnesota Timberwolves are hoping momentum finally sticks. After snapping a season-long five-game losing streak with a 108-83 win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday, Minnesota enters Wednesday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks with its star guard back in the lineup. Anthony Edwards has been upgraded to available after missing Monday’s game with a lingering foot issue.

The Timberwolves were forced to scratch Edwards late against Golden State despite him going through shootaround, a decision that caught even head coach Chris Finch off guard at the time.

“It was news to me, honestly,” Finch said. “He had pain from the foot that’s been troubling him.”

Finch added that he had not yet spoken extensively with the performance staff following the decision to sit Edwards, leaving his status for Dallas unclear until the Timberwolves’ most recent update confirmed his availability.

Minnesota Timberwolves Respond Without Anthony Edwards

Minnesota responded well without its leading scorer, leaning heavily on defense to hold the Warriors to 34.7% shooting. Rudy Gobert anchored the effort with 15 points and 17 rebounds, while Bones Hyland provided a spark off the bench with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Naz Reid pointed to the team’s response as the most encouraging takeaway as Minnesota tries to string together wins.

“It’s a long season,” Reid said. “We have ups and downs, we haven’t had a moment where we lost four or five in a row in a long time. But we’re not perfect and it’s how you respond. We responded the right way, and now we’ve got to carry over the same energy.”

Dallas Mavericks Searching for Stability as Youth Movement Emerges

The Mavericks enter Wednesday’s game searching for consistency of their own.

Dallas dropped a 116-110 decision to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, but the loss came after a stretch of progress that included a four-game winning streak with victories over the New York Knicks and Warriors. Against the Lakers, the Mavericks held a late lead before being overtaken by LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Luka Dončić.

“I thought the group did a great job competing,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said. “We put ourselves in a great position to win a close game.”

The backdrop surrounding Dallas remains complicated. As the one-year anniversary of the Dončić trade approaches, scrutiny around the deal has intensified amid injuries to Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Earlier this season, the Mavericks dismissed former general manager Nico Harrison following a slow start and mounting frustration around roster direction.

Still, there have been tangible positives. The Mavericks’ youth has injected energy during a difficult season. Cooper Flagg, last June’s No. 1 overall pick and a Rising Stars Challenge headliner, continues to validate expectations. Max Christie, the other key piece acquired in the Dončić deal, led Dallas with 24 points against the Lakers and has now scored more than 20 points in four straight games. Brandon Williams has also provided steady contributions.

With Edwards back in uniform, Wednesday’s matchup offers a chance for Minnesota to test its renewed confidence — and for Dallas to measure its growth against a fully intact opponent.

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