Dallas, TX
Mavericks vs. Timberwolves Game 3 Preview: 3 things as Dallas looks to put Minnesota on the brink
Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks return to Texas as conquering heroes and with a 2-0 series lead; two games on the road won by a total margin of four points. After Denver and Minnesota took turns exchanging blowouts, this series has been a “you bought the whole seat but you’ll only need the edge of it” non-stop thrill ride.
Taking the 2-0 lead is a huge accomplishment for sure, but there’s no sense that this is a team that is going to rest on their laurels. Without tempering the post-game celebration too much, Coach Jason Kidd reminded his team that they’d just stolen two games on the road – Minnesota was no doubt going to try and do the same. The Mavs should be riding high, but there’s work to be done in Dallas.
Take command
In their previous two series, with a 2-1 series lead, the Mavericks had opportunities in game four to take a commanding series lead. It doesn’t take advanced stats to tell you being up 3-1 is a world apart from being knotted up with two wins apiece. However, after a 31-point comeback against the Clippers, and despite leading nearly the entire game against the Thunder, Dallas wasn’t able to clinch either of those game fours. It’s a little surprising considering Dallas has often looked like the best closing teams in these playoffs, able to lean on Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the clutch to bring home the win.
Now, up 2-0, the Mavericks have another shot at putting the opponent on the brink. They deserve enormous credit for how resilient they’ve been, never losing back-to-back games this postseason, bouncing back strong from that pair of game-four losses. But it’d be nice to see this team assert their will and put themselves in an overwhelmingly dominant position. Not that the job is done at 3-0, but a larger margin for error is always welcome. (Plus, not to look ahead, but it doesn’t seem like the Pacers are going to provide much more than nominal resistance to Boston’s path to the finals, especially if Tyrese Haliburton is out for game three.)
No notes, keep it up
Dallas’ defensive track record speaks for itself in these playoffs (unless you’re a national NBA talking head who just thinks Dallas’ opponents just keep missing shots). In particular, they have made scoring in the paint a nightmare for opposing teams all playoffs. That has held true against Minnesota, even with Rudy Gobert down low and Anthony Edwards trying to attack the rim.
In the first round, Edwards was scoring 30% of his points in the paint. In the next round, against Denver, the number jumped to just north of 43% of his points. Against Dallas, Ant is scoring just 15% of his points in the paint.
With Dallas’ concerted effort to close down the paint and restricted areas to any and all opposing players, teams have been more reliant on jump shots and three-pointers. Edwards, who has by his own admission been gassed at the end of games, has had to rely more on on his outside shot to put points on the board. Tired legs and long jumpers just don’t mix. Minnesota’s scoring output has fallen precipitously in each of the first two games the longer they played, often lucky to pass the 20-point mark in the fourth.
The Mavericks’ defense is body blows all game long. They need to continue to wear teams down, guard the paint with their lives, and live with the occasional hot game by the Naz Reid’s of the world.
All out blitz
After a game where Doncic had a 32-point triple-double and shot over 45% from three, it’s not a wild expectation that Minnesota will try to do all they can to limit Doncic; even if it means giving up good looks for other players.
After a series where P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. took turns lighting it up from deep, both have been a little quieter on the offensive side this series. In two games, Washington is just 2-of-12 from deep while Jones Jr. is 0-for-5.
Those two are too important to Dallas’ defense to be out of the game for long, but when they’re not knocking down shots, it forces Coach Kidd to search for a spark from someone else off the bench. In game two, he was cycling through Jaden Hardy, Tim Hardaway Jr, and Dante Exum during a second quarter where the Wolves were building their 18-point lead, hoping one of them would provide some pushback on the scoreboard. The rotations are just a little easier to pilot if he can count on some offense from one of his starting wings.
Washington and DJJ are both due for a hot shooting game, and if Minnesota decides to sell out to stop Doncic at all costs, the shots will be there for them. They just need to knock ‘em down.
How to watch
You can broadcast or stream the game on TNT at 7:00 p.m. CDT.
The search for the next general manager or president of basketball operations of the Dallas Mavericks has begun. They terminated Nico Harrison in November, which was about nine months too late, and gave any available candidates clear notice that they were open for business.
The plan was always to wait until after the season to start the search. While names popped up as the season reached an end, they didn’t begin turning over the staff until the Monday after the season ended. However, Dallas Mavericks fans are not going to like how the team is going about the search.
Patrick Dumont Leading Search for General Manager
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Mavericks are not hiring a search firm in their hunt for a new lead executive. Instead, team governor Patrick Dumont is “acting as his own point person.”
This is an… interesting decision, to say the least. Dumont is not a basketball person whatsoever, and most organizations usually hire a search firm. The Chicago Bulls hired one as they look for their replacement for Arturas Karnisovas. Just because a firm is hired doesn’t mean a team will listen, though.
The Mavericks hired a firm in their last search for a GM. They let Donnie Nelson go in 2021 after a long tenure with the Mavs. Instead of listening to the firm, though, Mark Cuban ignored it to hire Nico Harrison, who had no previous NBA front office experience. Harrison had been an executive with Nike, which gave him connections with players like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and plenty of others.
For a while, that seemed to be working out okay. While he still had some questionable transactions, such as trading for Christian Wood and letting Jalen Brunson walk in free agency, they were still able to make a run to the NBA Finals in 2024. Then, he blew it all up, trading away Luka Doncic for an older and injured Anthony Davis, and the team hasn’t been the same since.
It’s imperative that the Mavericks get this hire correct. The interim Co-GM setup with Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley has performed admirably, but the 2026 NBA Draft is important for the Mavs to get right. It’s their best chance to pair Cooper Flagg with another young star, as they don’t own their first-round pick again until 2031 after this.
Hiring the right GM could help bring in more draft capital by bringing in bad contracts or flipping veterans into picks.
Dumont was able to convince Rick Welts, a Hall of Famer, to come out of retirement to be the CEO and lead the charge for a new arena. Maybe Dumont pulls another rabbit out of his hat for the GM.
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For a moment, it looked like FC Dallas was on its way to another statement win at home tonight.
Petar Musa scored two first half goals, to extend his Golden Boot leading tally to nine goals. But after Dallas grabbed control, the Galaxy found a way back before halftime with goals from Lucas Sanabria and Joseph Paintsil.
The second half brought more chances and more frustration for Dallas, which finished the night with 13 shots to LA’s nine. In the end, the point stretched Dallas’ unbeaten run to five games, though just like last week, it felt like another match where Dallas left points on the table.
Key Moments
7’ – GOAL! After a poor pass back by a LA defender, Petar Musa was free to go one-on-one with the LA goalkeeper. After a touch to get ahead of a defender, Musa slotted home his eighth goal of the season from outside the penalty box.
21’ – Offside! Joaquin Valiente sent a floating ball over the Galaxy defense, where Musa was able to get behind the defense and make an easy play for what appeared to be his second goal of the night. The play was called offside despite a fairly lengthy review period.
38’ – GOAL! This one counts! Musa gets his second of the night off a great ball from Chris Cappis. Logan Farrington picked off the ball in the midfield. He then played Cappis wide to the left of the penalty area. Cappis immediately played a ball back across the goal for Musa to slide in and finish for his ninth of the season.
43’ – Goal LA. Lucas Sanabria got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He took a couple of touches to get outside the penalty box before firing a shot that beat Michael Collodi at the near post.
45+4’ – Goal LA. Gabriel Pec got the ball near the top of the penalty area. He pulled the ball back a bit, which caught a pair of Dallas defenders. This allowed Joseph Painstil to get free behind the Dallas defense as Pec played him through inside the penalty area. Pec immediately smashed home a shot above Collodi to tie the game.
75’ – Another offside goal. This time on a corner kick for Dallas, after a scrum in the penalty box, Kaick hammered home what looked to be the go-ahead goal. But after a few seconds the flag was raised due to a deflection on Osaze Urhoghide, who was in an offside position.
Instant Reaction
Yeah, this is another disappointing result for this team. In a real way, it felt like the first half against Houston from last month. Dallas grabbed the lead, looked in control, but some defensive miscues opened the game up for the visitors to climb back.
With a double-game week coming up, this will certainly be another game where Dallas will wonder ‘what if’ more than anything else…especially when you factor in the two goals called off for offside.
About the Subs
Eric Quill went to his bench for the first time in the 66th minute, as he brought on Santiago Moreno for Logan Farrington. Quill went to his bench again 81st minute with Ran Binyamin and Nolan Norris coming on for Sebastien Ibeagha and Deedson. The final sub came during stoppage time with Herman Johansson and Joaquin Valiente coming off for Sam Sarver and rookie Nick Simmonds, who made his MLS debut.
Man of the Match
No question about it tonight, it has to be Musa.
Where does this fit into the season
As of this writing, the draw puts Dallas into a three-way tie for 5th place with Real Salt Lake and Seattle. Both are in action right now and look firmly in control of their games. I’d expect Dallas to be in 7th place by the end of the night.
What’s next for FC Dallas
Dallas wraps up a three-game homestand next Wednesday night as they host Minnesota United.
Dallas, TX
Akheem Mesidor selected by Cowboys by Blogging The Boys in SB Nation’s community mock draft
Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
Pass rush has been an issue since the Micah Parsons trade. The Rashan Gary trade helped, but Dallas still needs an injection of talent. Akheem Mesidor fits here because his body size allows for some versatility inside and out, something DC Christian Parker utilizes. Mesidor is also a high-motor player with a deep bag of pass rush moves.
His last season at Miami was full of disruption in the offensive backfield and he shows an all-around game, not just a bend-around-the-edge pass rusher. Yes, he’s a little older than you’d like in a rookie (25), but his motor, pass rush toolbox, and ability to play the run matches up with a need and makes him a quality pick at number 20.
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