Timberwolves vs. Mavericks final score: Short-handed Minnesota beats Dallas, 90-82

The Minnesota Timberwolves handled the Dallas Mavericks on the road despite being short-handed due to injury and then losing starting center Nikola Pekovic in the second half to a sprained ankle. The injury-riddled Timberwolves are now 5-2 on the season.

Minnesota led nearly the entire game, trailing only in the first couple of minutes before building a 25-17 lead after the first quarter. Dallas threatened several times in the second quarter, but the Timberwolves managed to hold on to a six-point lead at the half. That lead was pushed out to double digits in the third quarter, and the Mavericks would never get within six points after that.

Pekovic led Minnesota with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting before going out with the ankle injury. The Timberwolves got strong performances off the bench from Alexey Shved (16 points) and Dante Cunningham (14 points).

Darren Collison scored 21 points to lead Dallas. The Mavericks dropped their third game in a row and are now 4-4 on the year.