Minnesota @ Dallas preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 30, 2018 ) Minnesota 93, Dallas 92

Four-time All-Star Jimmy Butler displayed why the Minnesota Timberwolves are hoping they won't have to trade him last time out. Butler aims to follow up a stellar effort in the club's home opener when the Timberwolves visit the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

Butler was jeered during Friday's introductions due to his trade request but went on to score 33 points on 10-of-12 shooting in the Timberwolves' 131-123 victory over Cleveland. "You're allowed to dislike me, but you can't say that I'm a bad person," Butler told reporters after the victory. "You can't say that I don't play to win. That's all that matters. You can judge me by what you read in the media, but until you know me and you know where my heart is, just keep booing me." Dallas experienced defensive issues in its opener, allowing quarter outputs of 38 and 37 points during a 121-100 loss to Phoenix on Wednesday. "Unfortunately, that's how we started off the season," backup big man Dwight Powell told reporters. "But hopefully, we can turn that into a positive by letting it kind of light a fire under us and motivate us to be better than that, for sure, and to keep that as our focus."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS North Plus (Minnesota), FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (1-1): Butler made all 10 of his free-throw attempts while recording seven rebounds and four steals, turning the boos into some MVP chants when he stepped to the free-throw line early in the fourth quarter. “The crowd always loves a winner," power forward Taj Gibson told reporters. "When you’re doing well and you win the game and you’re playing well, you can turn those boos into cheers real quick. That’s what it seems like happened. There was some MVP chants out there. As long as he plays well, the tide will change.” Andrew Wiggins scored 22 points for his second straight 20-point effort.

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (0-1): Small forward Harrison Barnes (hamstring) participated in Friday's practice, but coach Rick Carlisle indicated there would have to be a lot of improvement for last season's leading scorer to be cleared to play against Minnesota. "I would say it's probably unlikely, just to err on the side of caution, but not impossible," Carlisle told reporters. "A lot of this depends on how a guy feels the next day." Barnes, who averaged 18.9 points last season, suffered the injury in the opening week of training camp and missed the preseason - in addition to the opener against Phoenix.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Timberwolves have won their last five meetings with the Mavericks, including all four last season.

2. Minnesota C Karl-Anthony Towns failed to record a double-double in either of the first two games after leading the NBA with 68 last campaign.

3. Dallas PG Devin Harris (hamstring) will miss at least two games after being injured in the season opener.

PREDICTION: Mavericks 104, Timberwolves 102