Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks was a thrilling NBA regular season showdown played on February 20, 2026, at Target Center in Minneapolis. It was a game that had a lot riding on it for both sides, with Minnesota looking to prove their strength at home and Dallas trying to find some consistency. From the opening tip-off, it was clear this was not going to be a quiet night. The Timberwolves came out with incredible energy and never really let the Mavericks settle, winning the game by a final score of 122–111. Anthony Edwards led the charge with a brilliant 40-point performance. For Dallas, the bench gave a solid effort, but it just was not enough to overcome Minnesota’s first-quarter dominance.
First Quarter: Timberwolves Set the Tone Early
If there was one quarter that told the full story of this game, it was the first. Minnesota came out on fire, outscoring Dallas 40–25 in the opening period. That 15-point swing in just 12 minutes of play put the Mavericks in a tough spot right away and gave the home crowd every reason to get loud.
Anthony Edwards was nearly unstoppable in those early minutes. He was attacking the basket, hitting mid-range jumpers, and even connecting from three-point range. Naz Reid off the bench gave instant energy, and Rudy Gobert was already making his presence felt around the rim. Dallas could not keep up. Their offense looked disorganized and their defensive rotations were slow to respond to Minnesota’s pace.
Klay Thompson was quiet in this quarter, and the Mavericks were struggling to find any sort of flow. The 15-point deficit they dug themselves into in the first 12 minutes proved to be far too deep to climb out of against a focused Timberwolves squad.
Second and Third Quarters: Dallas Fights Back
To their credit, the Mavericks did not give up. In the second quarter, Dallas actually outscored Minnesota 32–29, showing some life. Tyus Jones was sharp running the offense, and Marvin Bagley III was working hard on the glass and getting easy buckets inside. Brandon Williams also chipped in with some tough finishes at the rim.
The third quarter followed a similar pattern, with Dallas outscoring Minnesota 31–27. At this point, the Mavericks had slowly trimmed the lead, but they could never quite get close enough to make Minnesota panic. The Timberwolves always had an answer. Julius Randle, despite a shooting night that was up and down, was moving the ball and keeping the offense running. Jaden McDaniels played strong defense and made life difficult for Dallas’s shooters.
One big issue for Dallas throughout these quarters was turnovers. They only committed 12 on the night, which is not terrible, but Minnesota converted those mistakes into 23 points off turnovers, which is a huge number. Meanwhile, Minnesota committed 19 turnovers themselves but only gave up 13 points off those mistakes. That efficiency gap told a lot about the game.
Fourth Quarter: Minnesota Holds On
The fourth quarter was the final nail in Dallas’s coffin. Minnesota outscored Dallas 26–23 in the last period to seal the 122–111 win. The lead never looked seriously threatened in the final stretch. Anthony Edwards continued to be aggressive, and the Timberwolves’ defense held firm when it mattered most.
Dallas’s biggest lead in the entire game was just one point. Minnesota, on the other hand, held a lead of as many as 18 points during the contest. That number alone shows how much control the Timberwolves really had throughout the night.
Anthony Edwards: The Star of the Night
Let’s talk about Ant-Man. Anthony Edwards finished with 40 points, which was easily the best individual performance of the game. He shot 16 of 30 from the field, including 5 of 13 from three-point range. He was also 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. He added 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, and his plus/minus on the night was an impressive +17.
Edwards was a nightmare for Dallas all evening. He attacked the paint aggressively, finishing 8 of 13 shots at the rim, and showed real maturity in picking his spots. His true shooting percentage for the game was 63.0%, which is an excellent number. This was the kind of performance that reminds everyone why he is considered one of the best young players in the NBA.
Rudy Gobert: Dominating the Paint
While Edwards stole the headlines, Rudy Gobert was quietly having a monster game. The big Frenchman finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds, recording a dominant double-double. He shot an eye-popping 9 of 11 from the field, with 10 of his boards coming on the offensive glass. That offensive rebounding number was remarkable, and it gave Minnesota second-chance opportunities all night long.
Gobert also contributed 3 blocks and kept Dallas’s bigs from feeling comfortable near the basket. His second-chance points total of 12 shows just how much energy he brought on the offensive boards. His efficiency rating of 39 was the highest of any player on either team, and his true shooting percentage was 75.8%. Simply put, he was everywhere.
Naz Reid: The Spark Off the Bench
One of the most pleasant stories from this game was the performance of Naz Reid coming off the bench. He put up 21 points on a very efficient 8 of 14 shooting, going 4 of 8 from three-point range. He also grabbed 7 rebounds, dished 4 assists, and had 2 blocks. His plus/minus was +12, and his true shooting percentage was a terrific 70.6%.
Reid gave Minnesota a massive boost every time he stepped on the floor. He can shoot from outside, finish inside, and make plays for others. His performance in this game was a reminder of how deep this Minnesota roster actually is.
Dallas Mavericks: Top Performers
For Dallas, the effort was real, but the results were not enough. Marvin Bagley III was the best Maverick on the night with 15 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 55.6% from the field. He was a double-double machine and worked hard on the offensive glass with 7 offensive rebounds of his own.
Tyus Jones was sharp, finishing with 13 points on 60% shooting and 6 assists. He ran the offense cleanly and did not turn the ball over once. P.J. Washington had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds but struggled to find his shot, going just 5 of 17 from the field. Klay Thompson finished with 11 points but shot only 33.3% from the field and was a -23 in plus/minus, making him the Mavericks’ worst performer in that category on the night.
Dallas’s bench actually outscored Minnesota’s bench, putting up 45 bench points compared to Minnesota’s 31. That shows that Dallas’s starters could not carry their weight, which ultimately cost them the game.
Team Stats Comparison
Minnesota’s field goal percentage of 47.5% was higher than Dallas’s 42.3%. From three-point range, the Timberwolves shot 38.1% while Dallas managed only 32.0%. Minnesota also dominated on the glass, pulling down 66 total rebounds compared to Dallas’s 57. Inside the paint, Dallas actually edged Minnesota 60–56 in points, which was one area where they had a slight advantage.
Minnesota’s biggest lead of 18 points showed the level of control they had for most of the game. Their offensive rating of 111.6 versus Dallas’s 104.0 tells the full story, as Minnesota was simply the more efficient team on both ends of the court. Their 56 points in the paint and 20 fast-break points showed they were running the floor and attacking early in possessions.
Conclusion
The Timberwolves beat the Dallas Mavericks 122–111 in a game that was never truly in doubt after that huge first quarter. Anthony Edwards was brilliant, Rudy Gobert dominated the interior, and Naz Reid gave a great contribution off the bench. Dallas showed some fight in the middle quarters but could not overcome the hole they dug themselves into early. Both teams will meet again on March 31, 2026, when the rematch takes place in Dallas and you can bet the Mavericks will be looking for revenge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What was the final score of the Timberwolves vs Mavericks game?
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Dallas Mavericks 122–111 in a game played on February 20, 2026, at Target Center in Minneapolis.
Q2: Who was the top scorer in the Timberwolves vs Mavericks game?
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves was the top scorer with 40 points, shooting 16 of 30 from the field and 5 of 13 from three-point range.
Q3: How did Rudy Gobert perform against the Mavericks?
Rudy Gobert had a dominant double-double with 22 points and 17 rebounds, shooting 9 of 11 from the field and grabbing 10 offensive rebounds.
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