Dallas and Minnesota met in last year’s Western Conference Final, a series Dallas took in five games and finished with a perfect 3-0 record at Minnesota.

The Mavs are off to a 2-1 start this season but are in a difficult spot to start the week, playing last night versus Utah then taking the near cross-country flight to Minnesota. The 2-1 Timberwolves last played Saturday where they defeated Toronto in the T-Wolves home opener.

Tip-off at Target Center is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT with Minnesota a 5.5-point favourite on home court (and -200 on the moneyline) while the total is at 222.5 on the NBA odds.

Mavericks vs. Timberwolves NBA Betting Odds

Given their star power, youth, and recent success… expectations are still essentially championship or bust for both these franchises. Dallas and Minnesota entered the NBA season with two of the best odds to win the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, with Dallas currently at +1100 odds and Minnesota right behind at +1200.

When this teams met in the post-season last year, the road team went 4-1. Dallas won all three of their road games including a series-clinching 124-103 victory in Game 5. Luka Doncic led the Mavs in scoring in all five outings, going over 30 points in each Dallas win. In five of the last six Mavs–Timberwolves games in Minnesota, Dallas is 5-1 ATS. Minnesota’s 1-6 ATS in their last seven home outings overall.

Dallas Mavericks

At 34-years-old, Klay Thompson is fitting in well with his new squad. Coming over from Golden State as a free agent addition, Thompson’s averaging just under 20 points per contest with Dallas and averaging five made threes while shooting nearly 50 per cent from the three-point arc.

Tuesday is Dallas’ first back-to-back of the season, a spot they went 9-5 in last season. Given the Mavericks went all the way to the NBA Finals a season ago, they’re not necessarily well-rested. Albeit it’s safe to assume Doncic and Co. are ready for their first date with Minnesota. Doncic and Kyrie Irving are again at the top of Dallas’ scoring, each with over 20 points a night. Doncic, Irving, and Thompson make for as good of a top-three scoring options as you can get on an NBA team. But in a back-to-back spot — it’s the bench players, the Dereck Lively II’s and Spencer Dinwiddie’s of the Mavericks who will need to step up Tuesday.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota faithful got their first look at Julius Randle and Donte DiVencenzo on Saturday and the off-season acquisitions didn’t disappoint. Randle had a team-high 24 points, while DiVencenzo led all bench scorers with 16 points in the win against Toronto. Randle’s starting in what was Karl-Anthony Towns’ power forward spot until he was sent back to in the blockbuster trade with New York. The move made 23-year-old Anthony Edwards the clear face of the franchise, as the explosive guard is looking to ascend even higher.

Edwards is coming off career highs in points (25.9) and assists (5.1) last season and should get even more minutes to increase those numbers in 2024–25. The Timberwolves played just nine players in each of their first three outings this season — as DiVencenzo, Naz Reid, Joe Ingles, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are logging some heavier bench minutes.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Mavericks vs. Timberwolves?

• Regular Season

Mavericks Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 28.14
Assists	Luka Doncic 7.82
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 8.32
FG%	Dwight Powell 77.8
Steals	Luka Doncic 2
Blocks	Dereck Lively II 1.69

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 26.28
Assists	Julius Randle 4.53
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 10.28
FG%	PJ Dozier 66.7
Steals	Jaden McDaniels 1.35
Blocks	Rudy Gobert 1.44

• Regular Season

Timberwolves Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 28.14
Assists	Luka Doncic 7.82
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 8.32
FG%	Dwight Powell 77.8
Steals	Luka Doncic 2
Blocks	Dereck Lively II 1.69

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 26.28
Assists	Julius Randle 4.53
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 10.28
FG%	PJ Dozier 66.7
Steals	Jaden McDaniels 1.35
Blocks	Rudy Gobert 1.44

Injuries

Dallas

Quentin Grimes (SG)

Ques Wed Back - 20 / 01 / 25

Dwight Powell (PF)

Ques Wed Hip - 19 / 01 / 25

Jaden Hardy (SG)

Ques Wed Ankle - 18 / 01 / 25

Kyrie Irving (PG)

Ques Fri Back - 15 / 01 / 25

Dereck Lively II (C)

Ques Wed Ankle - 15 / 01 / 25

Daniel Gafford (PF)

Ques Thurs Ankle - 07 / 01 / 25

Kyrie Irving (PG)

Ques Tues Illness - 03 / 01 / 25

Maxi Kleber (PF)

Ques Fri Oblique - 02 / 01 / 25

P.J. Washington (PF)

Ques Fri Knee - 02 / 01 / 25

Kyrie Irving (PG)

Ques Wed Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 24

Minnesota

Rudy Gobert (C)

Ques Mon Ankle - 19 / 01 / 25

Donte DiVincenzo (SG)

Out indefinitely Toe - 16 / 01 / 25

Rudy Gobert (C)

Ques Mon Head - 12 / 01 / 25

Terrence Shannon Jr. (SG)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 12 / 01 / 25

Josh Minott (SF)

Ques Mon Illness - 03 / 01 / 25

Rob Dillingham (PG)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 29 / 12 / 24

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (SG)

Ques Fri Illness - 27 / 12 / 24

Daishen Nix (SG)

Ques Sat Ankle - 22 / 12 / 24

Luka Garza (C)

Ques Thurs Ankle - 21 / 12 / 24

Rob Dillingham (PG)

Ques Fri Ankle - 02 / 12 / 24

Injuries

Dallas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Quentin Grimes (SG)	Ques Wed	Back - 20 / 01 / 25	1-1	0-2	+ -
Grimes is battling with a back injury, and it is undetermined if he will dress against the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Dwight Powell (PF)	Ques Wed	Hip - 19 / 01 / 25	1-1	0-2	+ -
Powell is battling with a hip injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Jaden Hardy (SG)	Ques Wed	Ankle - 18 / 01 / 25	1-2	1-2	+ -
Hardy missed the previous contest due to a right ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will be participate against the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Kyrie Irving (PG)	Ques Fri	Back - 15 / 01 / 25	1-4	1-4	+ -
Irving is dealing with back injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the Thunder on Friday.
Dereck Lively II (C)	Ques Wed	Ankle - 15 / 01 / 25	1-4	1-4	+ -
Lively II is dealing with a right ankle sprain, and it remains to be seen if he will return to action against the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Daniel Gafford (PF)	Ques Thurs	Ankle - 07 / 01 / 25	2-7	3-6	+ -
Gafford exited the previous game due to an ankle sprain, and it is unknown if he will suit up to face the Trail Blazers on Thursday.
Kyrie Irving (PG)	Ques Tues	Illness - 03 / 01 / 25	2-8	3-7	+ -
Irving is dealing with a back injury, and it is unknown if he will take the court against the Nuggets on Tuesday.
Maxi Kleber (PF)	Ques Fri	Oblique - 02 / 01 / 25	2-9	3-8	+ -
Kleber is nursing with a oblique injury, and it is undetermined if he will face Cavaliers on Friday.
P.J. Washington (PF)	Ques Fri	Knee - 02 / 01 / 25	2-9	3-8	+ -
Washington exited the matchup with a right knee sprain, and it is undetermined if he will dress against the Cavaliers on Friday.
Kyrie Irving (PG)	Ques Wed	Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 24	2-10	4-8	+ -
Irving missed the previous game dealing with a shoulder injury, and it remains to be seen if he will participate against the Rockets on Wednesday.

Minnesota

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Rudy Gobert (C)	Ques Mon	Ankle - 19 / 01 / 25	2-1	1-2	+ -
Gobert is dealing with a right ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will face the Grizzlies on Monday.
Donte DiVincenzo (SG)	Out indefinitely	Toe - 16 / 01 / 25	2-3	3-2	+ -
DiVincenzo is nursing with a left big toe injury, and he will miss an extended period.
Rudy Gobert (C)	Ques Mon	Head - 12 / 01 / 25	3-4	4-3	+ -
Gobert exited the game due to head injury, and it is unknown if he will face the Wizard on Monday.
Terrence Shannon Jr. (SG)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 12 / 01 / 25	3-4	4-3	+ -
Shannon Jr is managing a Grade 2 mid-foot sprain, and he is not expected to suit up for next two to four weeks.
Josh Minott (SF)	Ques Mon	Illness - 03 / 01 / 25	4-7	7-5	+ -
Minott is ailing from illness, and it remains to be seen if he will play against the Clippers on Monday.
Rob Dillingham (PG)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 29 / 12 / 24	5-8	9-5	+ -
Dillingham is bothered by an ankle injury, and he is about to miss one to two weeks.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (SG)	Ques Fri	Illness - 27 / 12 / 24	6-8	9-6	+ -
Alexander-Walker is ailing with an illness, and it is uncertain if he will play Friday's game against Rockets.
Daishen Nix (SG)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 22 / 12 / 24	6-11	10-8	+ -
Nix is hampered by an ankle injury, and it is uncertain if he will dress against the Pistons on Saturday.
Luka Garza (C)	Ques Thurs	Ankle - 21 / 12 / 24	6-11	10-8	+ -
Garza is nursing a left ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will take the court against the Magic on Thursday.
Rob Dillingham (PG)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 02 / 12 / 24	11-13	11-14	+ -
Dillingham is dealing with an ankle injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will face Lakers on Friday.