Battle of Physicality: Dallas Mavs Look Forward to Butting Heads with Timberwolves: Playoffs Preview

The Dallas Mavericks are back in the Western Conference Finals for the second time since 2022. While Jason Kidd motivated Dallas to play a good defense during the 2022 playoffs, that team vastly differed from its current build. Now, equipped with a legitimate center rotation and flexible wings, the Mavs have a legitimate playoff roster and don’t have to solely rely on Luka Doncic to blaze teams every game. 

However, on the other side of the WCF, the Minnesota Timberwolves were the best defensive team in the regular season, and for good reason. Regardless of his sometimes-unpopular style and personality, Rudy Gobert helped anchor Minnesota's elite defense.

Aside from the usual suspects, superstar Anthony Edwards, like Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade, takes pride in defense rather than focusing all his energy on offense. While the Oklahoma City Thunder's regular-season magic disappeared later in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Timberwolves' defense remained at a high level while eliminating the defending champion Denver Nuggets. 

Minnesota had the best defensive rating in the semifinal round by a large margin, separated from second place by 5.1 points per 100 possessions. Nikola Jokic has never looked so gas when he played against the Timberwolves in Game 7. 

However, despite what ESPN and TNT want you to believe, the Timberwolves and Mavericks have more in common than you think. Both teams play physical ball, have relatively limited offense from their bigs, and have X-factor wings in P.J. Washington Jr. and Jaden McDaniels. The main comparison comes from the Mavericks and Timberwolves' alpha superstars, Doncic and Edwards, respectively.  

Doncic can't afford to squander possessions against such a lethal defense. Doncic's backcourt mate, Kyrie Irving, has to maintain consistency throughout the game instead of trying to pile on the scoring in the fourth quarter. 

Dallas and Minnesota will force refs to decide whether they want a physical test or a charity stripe marathon. As both teams mirror each other, don't expect many blowouts in this series. 

Mavericks vs. Timberwolves Injury Report

Minnesota Timberwolves

• Mike Conley (QUESTIONABLE - right soleus)

Dallas Mavericks

• Luka Doncic (PROBABLE) - right knee; left ankle)
• Maxi Kleber (OUT - right shoulder)
• Olivier-Maxence Prosper (OUT - left ankle)

WHERE: Target Center (Minneapolis, MN) 

WHEN: Wednesday, May 22, 2024, 7:30 p.m. CT

TV: TNT

ODDS: The Mavericks are four-point underdogs to the Timberwolves

FINAL WORD: The last time the Mavericks were in the WCF in 2022, Dwight Powell, Frank Ntilikina, and Davis Bertans had playing time in non-garbage time scenarios. No disrespect to any of those three players, but the 2024 WCF rendition of the Mavs is the deepest in the Doncic era. 

The Mavs are no longer just happy to be in WCF, as they were in 2022 against the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors. The Doncic-led unit has every reason to believe they can make the NBA Finals.