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Wolves Eye Top 4, Mavs Tanking for Draft Pick
20 Feb
Summary
- Timberwolves aim for top-four seeding in Western Conference.
- Mavericks have lost nine consecutive games and are tanking.
- Kyrie Irving is out for the season due to a torn ACL.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are preparing for the home stretch of their 2025-26 season, beginning Friday against the struggling Dallas Mavericks. Minnesota, currently the sixth seed in the Western Conference, aims to secure a top-four position in the standings.
The Mavericks' season has taken a significant downturn, marked by a nine-game losing streak and a projected net rating of -8.1 over their last ten games. The team's situation was further solidified with the announcement that Kyrie Irving will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL, indicating a likely focus on the 2026 NBA Draft.
Despite being heavily favored at home, the Timberwolves have struggled against the spread in similar situations. However, their motivation to win against sub-.500 teams like Dallas is high, especially given the Mavericks' poor road record of 5-18. Minnesota has a strong 22-9 record against teams below .500.
The Timberwolves have already secured two dominant wins against Dallas this season, by margins of 13 and 24 points. Oddsmakers have set Minnesota as significant favorites for Friday's game, with a projected point spread of -12.5. The Timberwolves are expected to start their post-All-Star break schedule with a decisive victory.
