The Mavericks looked discombobulated Friday night. Perhaps it was because for the first time since 1999, the 7-foot fixture wasn’t on the court for the tip off. All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki did not start because he was late for the morning shoot around.
But that’s no excuse for letting the Timberwolves shoot 55 percent in the first quarter. Or letting them go on a combined 13-0 run at the end of the second quarter and beginning of the third after the Mavs had put together a 13-0 run themselves to take a 10-point lead. Or allowing them to make 12 of 22 3’s for the game. It seemed like every time the Mavs closed the gap, the Timberwolves would regain their advantage with a long-range make. Minnesota already had 5 3-pointers early on in the second quarter.
A team of the Mavericks caliber shouldn’t just watch while a 1-point game with 1:29 to go turns into a 9-point win for its opponents.
The victory, one of 12 for the Timberwolves this season, gives the team its first 3-game winning streak of the season.
The Mavs remain in an unexplainable funk, having lost 4 of 5. Whether owner Mark Cuban is upset or not, the Mavs need to find themselves quickly. A team with good chemistry would have found a way to win this game.
Rodrigue Beaubois, who Rick Carlisle said before the game is going to play more minutes in upcoming contests, played 24:05 minutes, shooting 4 of 5 on 3-pointers and 6 of 10 on field goals for 17 points.
The rookie may be just what the Mavs need right now. Let’s hope so.
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