The Minnesota Timberwolves (1-0) defeated the Dallas Mavericks (0-1) Thursday night in Abu Dhabi, with a score of 111-99. With 20 points in just 17 minutes, Karl-Anthony Towns led the Wolves. Luka Doncic gave Dallas fans a show as he scored 25 points in the Mavericks’ loss.

Dallas looked uninterested in playing much defense and struggled to make any kind of shot when the 2023–24 preseason got underway. After just six or so minutes of play, the Mavericks were behind 22 to 5, with Doncic accounting for the team’s lone field goal. Rudy Gobert and Karl Towns arrived prepared to play, pushing the Mavericks about on the boards and in the paint. In the latter half of the quarter, Dallas eventually established a slight offensive rhythm, but the defense failed to catch up. After one quarter, the Mavericks were behind Minnesota 37–19.

Even when Dallas ultimately broke the tie on three-pointers after missing their first fourteen attempts, things did not get any better in the second half. At the halfway point of the quarter, Grant Williams made back-to-back baskets to force a Timberwolves timeout. Dallas trailed by 20 points or more for the majority of the session until Luka Doncic’s late surge eventually closed the gap. The Timberwolves were ahead 66-49 at the break.

Dallas supporters get a closer look at the Maverick roster with the starting lineup sidelined for the second half. Josh Green and Jaden Hardy led a charge that brought the Mavericks back within twelve. Dallas was forced to concede more points after a fantastic mid-range hook shot and a defensive strip by Richaun Holmes. Even with a fierce comeback and cutting the margin to single digits, Naz Reid assisted the Timberwolves in taking back the initiative. Dallas entered the fourth quarter behind, 87-74.

The lads from training camp and the end of the bench played the most of the fourth quarter. The Mavericks’ Jelly Walker missed a couple of jumpers, but Luka Garza ate Dallas alive and helped the Wolves gain ground in an effort to win the game. Joe Wieskamp, A.J. Lawson, and Walker would attempt a last-ditch effort, but the Wolves held onto their lead and won 111-99 after a Minnesota timeout.