Dallas @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 24, 2020 ) Minnesota 123, Dallas 139

A thumb issue led to a rough night for Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic on Friday in Miami. The All-Star hopes to have a better handle on things when the Mavericks continue a four-game road trip at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

After tying the franchise record for triple-doubles with his 21st in the opener of the road trip - a 109-103 win at San Antonio - Doncic opened 2-of-9 from the floor against the Heat in an eventual 126-118 loss. "I couldn't catch the ball," Doncic told reporters after he rallied for 23 points but missed all six of his 3-point attempts and turned it over six times. "I didn't know how important the thumb was to hold the ball. It was tough. ... I wasn't myself today. Just have to learn from that and move on." If Doncic is able to go Sunday, he'll get to take aim at a Timberwolves squad that continues to give up points in bunches, including a 136-125 loss at Orlando on Friday to finish off a 1-3 road trip. D'Angelo Russell scored 28 points in the setback as Minnesota was unable to build upon a stunning victory at Miami two nights earlier in which it rallied from a 12-point deficit in the final four minutes.

TIME: 3:30 p.m. ET. TV: FS Southwest, FS North

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (36-24): Seth Curry made up for Doncic's struggles from the perimeter by hitting 8-of-9 3-pointers en route to a career-high 37 points at Miami. "Seth was great," coach Rick Carlisle told reporters. "His shooting of the basketball has been phenomenal for a stretch here. That's definitely a positive." Curry averaged 18.5 points in February while making 39-of-66 triples and shooting 55.5 percent overall.

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (17-41): Orlando entered Friday ranked 29th in the NBA in scoring but managed a season high in points against Minnesota while shooting 54.1 percent and gaining a 54-33 advantage on the glass. "You can't get outrebounded by 21," coach Ryan Saunders, whose team continues to operate without star center Karl-Anthony Towns (wrist), told the media. "To beat and compete with a team that has been together a long time, you've got to force yourself to be a little more disciplined than you may be. We just didn't have that tonight." Juan Hernangomez did his part with 18 points and a career high-tying 13 rebounds for his second double-double in eight games since being traded from Denver.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Russell is averaging 25 points and 7.8 assists in six games since joining the Timberwolves.

2. Mavericks PF Kristaps Porzingis recorded 24 points and 13 rebounds Friday and averaged 25.2 points and 10.6 boards in February.

3. Dallas claimed two earlier meetings - both at home - while averaging 130 points.

PREDICTION: Mavericks 123, Timberwolves 117