Mavericks vs. Timberwolves: Game 10 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (6-3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-6)
Sat. Nov. 15, 7:30 at the AAC
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 11.5


2013-14 Matchups
Nov. 8 at Minnesota
Wolves 116 Mavs 108
Nov. 30 at Dallas
Wolves 112 Mavs 106
Dec. 30 at Minnesota
Mavs 100 Wolves 98
Mar. 19 at Dallas
Wolves 123 Mavs 122 (OT)

All-Time Series
Mavs 58 Wolves 44

Team Stats
Mavs
Offense: 115.5 (1st)
Defense: 105.8 (15th)
Point Differential: +9.0
Wolves
Offense: 103.5 (20th)
Defense: 106.9 (22nd)
Point Differential: -8.9

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jameer Nelson
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Wolves
PG: Zach LaVine
SG: Kevin Martin
SF: Andrew Wiggins
PF: Gorgui Dieng
C: Nikola Pekovic

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 20.9
RPG: Chandler, 9.8
APG: Ellis, 4.6
PER: Wright, 28.3
Win Shares: Nowitzki, 1.4
Wolves
PPG: Martin, 18.3
RPG: Pekovic, 9.1
APG: Rubio, 10.0
PER: Dieng, 23.3
Win Shares: Martin, 0.7

Of Note

• Both teams are coming off the opposite ends of two blowouts. The Mavs set a team record for victory margin with their 123-70 winover the Sixers on Thursday, while the Wolves were destroyed 139-91 by the Pelicans on Friday. In that game New Orelans shot 67% from the field and were 15-20 on threes.
• J.J. Barea will face the team he spent the last three seasons with. The Wolves waived him right before the start of this season.
• Minnesota will be without two key players: Ricky Rubio, who is out indefinitely  with a sprained ankle and Thaddeus Young, who is mourning the loss of his mother.
• Minnesota took 3 out of the 4 meeting between the teams last year as all the games were decided by 8 points or less. Of course this is a lot different Wolves team after trading Kevin Love and with Rubio out of the lineup.
• Brandan Wright (28.3) and Dirk Nowitzki (28.0) rank second and third in the league in PER trailing only Anthony Davis (35.2).
• The Mavs have led by at least 30 points in 3 of their 5 home games so far. They led Utah by 30 on their way to a 18 point win, led by 31 against Boston before hanging on to win by 5 and then led by as much as 58 in their record-setting romp of the Sixers.