Timberwolves 123 Mavericks 122 (OT): Game 69 Review

Headline
Mavs charge back late from 22 point deficit, but fall short in overtime as Love hits game-winner.

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Nowitzki, 27
Rebounds: Dalembert, 14
Assists: Marion, 5
+-: Crowder, +14
Wolves
Points: Love, 35
Rebounds: Dieng, 11
Assists: Rubio, 15
+-: Dieng, +15

Game Balls
Kevin Love
35 pts., 8 rbs., 11-20 FG, 11-14 FT
Ricky Rubio
22 pts., 10 rbs., 15 ast., 8-12 FG

X-Factor
Shawn Marion
16 pts., 11 rbs., 5 ast., 8-12 FG

Goat
The Mavs terrible start that left them trailing 50-28 in the 2nd quarter.

Play of the Game
Kevin Love's game-winning bucket in which he split the double-team and finished inside to give the Wolves the lead back with 17 seconds left in OT.

Stat of the Game
Minnesota scored 29 points on 16 Mavs turnovers including multiple Corey Brewer leakout dunks early off Dallas miscues.

Mavs Grades
Dirk Nowitzki: C+
Shawn Marion: A-
Samuel Dalembert: B+
Monta Ellis: B+
Jose Calderon: C
Devin Harris: B-
Vince Carter: B-
Brandan Wright: C
Jae Crowder: C+

Additional Notes
Tonight was the first since Dec. 20, 2003 Dirk took at least 7 threes and missed them all. It was only the third time in his career for that to occur.
Monta Ellis scored 12 points in a row for the Mavs to finish regulation and force overtime after  Minnesota had a 12 point  lead with less than 5 minutes to go.
Rubio is the first NBA player to record 20 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists in a game since Rajon Rondo on 2-12-12.
Timberwolves rookie center Gorgui Dieng has his second consecutive double-double (10 pts., 11 rbs.), as he starts in place of Nikola Pekovic who is out with a sore right ankle.

Quote of Note
"Look, the last possession always gets overanalyzed in games like this. Our poor play at the beginning of the game is the reason it came down the way it did. Shame on us."
Rick Carlisle on the play call at the end of overtime that resulted in a Dirk missed tough fadeaway over Kevin Love.

Next Up
The Mavericks (41-28) look to bounce back against a team in the Denver Nuggets (31-37) they have yet to defeat in three tries this year, Friday at 7:30.