Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction-If you’re looking for clues about how the 2024 NBA Western Conference Finals will unfold, you might come up empty if you look back at the four regular-season games between the Mavericks and Timberwolves.
Minnesota has won three of its four meetings against Dallas, earning a plus-13.3 point differential over those four games.
But — and this is important — the Mavericks were underpowered in most of those games. Luka Doncic missed two games, a 118–110 Timberwolves win on December 28 and a 121–84 Timberwolves win on January 31. Kyrie Irving missed three games and Dallas lost all three
And, remember, Minnesota’s most important players — Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, Nage Reed, Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson and Nikhil Alexander-Walker — appeared in all four games against Dallas. .
Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction:
Here’s another wild card: The Mavericks added two key players, PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, at the trade deadline, which followed their game against the Timberwolves.
We say all this to make a basic point: Part of what will make the Western Conference Finals so interesting is that we have yet to see the full-strength Mavericks face the Timberwolves.
What we know for sure is that both teams earned their way here. The Wolves swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round and then defeated the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets to win Game 7 in Denver. The Mavericks swept the LA Clippers in the first round in six games and then eliminated the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round in six games.
All of this makes for an interesting Western Conference Finals. To provide some insight, we spoke with an NBA scout, coach and executive and asked them for their predictions and analysis. Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction-We have allowed anonymity because their employers have not allowed other franchisees to discuss them publicly. Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction-Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction-Anonymity also gave them the latitude to be completely candid with their assessments.
No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks
Scout’s view: Key win for Minnesota on Sunday. That was just magnificent. Record-breaking deficit (the Timberwolves faced). … It gives them a huge amount of confidence that they won that game. They also have their home court. … Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction-They probably think they can do something. And they are legitimately good.
They have been at the top of the Western Conference for most of the year and are the best defensive team in the league. And you saw that in the series against Denver and certainly in Game 7.
They are super long. They’ve got one of the best shot blockers in the league, they have great perimeter defenders in McDaniels and Edwards, who has become a really good defender, and Nikhil Alexander-Walker. Mike Conley has no regrets.
I think McDaniels and Edwards can match up with Irving and Doncic, and then you bring in Alexander-Walker, who has really embraced his role as a defender and 3-point shooter and can also guard. So Dallas’ two biggest stars are going to have their work cut out for them and vice versa. Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction-But Minnesota has quality perimeter defenders and, of course, Gobert in the middle.
Obviously, Dončić and Irving are going to get them. Key to the previous series vs. OKC was P.J. That’s how effective Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. were. Can PJ Washington step up again? This will be a huge question for me in this series. …
In all these series, what often happens is that the best player among the best players wins. So you have Edwards and Towns and Gobert … versus Doncic and Irving. … Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction-I’m going to give the edge to the other Minnesota guys: McDaniels, Conley, Naz Reed, Alexander-Walker and Anderson. … I like that team. I mean, Nazi Reed could start on virtually every team in the league. …
Minnesota has been great defensively all year. My question going into the playoffs was: Can they score enough? And they did. McDaniels is an X-Factor. He was kind of erratic during the regular season, but he had a big game on Sunday. … They need him and Reed to complement Edwards and Towns in scoring. … If McDaniels and Reid can get into double figures, that gives them a huge edge. …
Dallas stars have a slight edge in terms of sheer superstar power, though Edwards is certainly coming into his own. … But I think the secondary guys in Minnesota are good. … Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction-Minnesota has two more things going for them. They have home court and they got that huge win (Sunday in Denver). I don’t think you can underestimate their impact going forward.