NBA: Timberwolves stay hot, knock off Mavericks

Naz Reid sank a career-high seven 3-pointers to highlight his season-best 27-point performance on Thursday, lifting the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves to a 119-101 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Reid made 8 of 14 shots from the floor for the Timberwolves, who overcame Luka Doncic's 39-point, 13-assist performance and posted their seventh win in their last eight games.

Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 21 points and 17 rebounds, Mike Conley added 14 points and Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 13. Anthony Edwards made just 3 of 19 shots from the floor to finish with nine points -- albeit with 11 assists -- in his return from a one-game absence due to a right hip pointer.

The Timberwolves outscored Dallas by a 60-41 margin in the second half. They shot 50 percent from the floor and 45.2 percent from 3-point range (14 of 31) for the game. They also held a 45-34 edge in rebounds.

Dereck Lively II scored 15 points and Dante Exum added 14 for the Mavericks, who saw their four-game winning streak come to a halt. Dallas' Kyrie Irving sat out his third straight game due to a right heel contusion.

Reid sank a pair of 3-pointers as the Timberwolves scored 17 of the first 26 points in the fourth quarter to increase their lead to 104-91. Conley and Towns each connected from beyond the arc in the quarter as Minnesota stepped on the gas while Dallas quickly faded.

The Mavericks shot 47 percent from the field and were a shaky 7 of 32 (21.9 percent) from 3-point range.

Doncic wasted little time making an impact on Thursday. He converted a three-point play, sank a short jumper and drilled a 3-pointer before draining another while adding a free throw to stake Dallas to an early 17-2 lead. He finished by the first quarter by making 6 of 10 shots to help the Mavericks record a 30-26 advantage.

Minnesota rallied and pulled ahead at 57-54 after Reid sank a 3-pointer with 1:34 remaining in the second quarter. Doncic, however, made two free throws and two layups as part of a 6-2 run to give Dallas the lead at halftime.

--Field Level Media/Reuters