The Timberwolves came out on top in a nail-biter, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 115-114 to put an end to their two-game losing streak. Mike Conley, who’s not having the best season statistically (career-lows of 7.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists), had his best game of the year. He dropped a season-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-6 from deep, and added eight assists, five rebounds, and two steals. His steady hand came through in the clutch, hitting two big free throws with 11.8 seconds left to help seal the win. This win puts Minnesota and Dallas both at 23-21, tying them up as they fight for the seventh spot in the Western Conference.
After the game, Julius Randle joked about Conley’s performance, saying, “I think he’s starting to really turn the corner and find his rhythm. He’s old as hell, so it takes older people a little bit longer. Now that it’s game 50, hopefully, he’s caught his rhythm, and we can get this thing going.” Randle has been doing plenty of heavy lifting himself this season, averaging 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. Against the Mavericks, he added another solid performance with 19 points, seven boards, and three assists.
Julius Randle smiling when he talks about Mike Conley: "I think he’s starting to really turn the corner and find his rhythm. He’s old as hell, so it takes older people a little bit longer. Now that it’s game 50, hopefully he’s caught his rhythm and we can get this thing going."
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) January 23, 2025
The night wasn’t all about Conley and Julius Randle, though. Jaden McDaniels had himself a game, going for a career-high 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting. He also brought the energy on defense with eight rebounds, four blocks, and three steals. Anthony Edwards chipped in 21 points, while Rudy Gobert added 14 points, six rebounds, and three blocks. Minnesota’s starters all hit double figures, showing off their balanced attack. Moreover, they held Dallas to 27.6% from three, forced 13 turnovers, and hit 30 of 34 free throws.
Mike Conley’s Leadership Is Proving To Be A Game-Changer
Conley’s value goes way beyond the stat sheet, something Timberwolves coach Chris Finch made clear. “He’s just always in the right spot, executes the game plan, competes on his matchup, and anticipates well. He’s a stabilizing force for us,” Finch said. It’s hard to argue with that when you see the numbers, as Minnesota is now 19-4 when Conley has a positive or even plus-minus this season.
On the other side, Kyrie Irving was doing everything he could to keep the Mavericks boat afloat, dropping 36 points and hitting the 18,000 career point milestone in the process. P.J. Washington Jr. pitched in with 30 points, but the Mavericks were missing Luka Doncic (calf strain) and Dereck Lively II (stress fracture), which clearly hurt their depth. Irving still gave Minnesota a scare, but his buzzer-beating attempt fell short, leaving Dallas to drop to 23-21. Minnesota’s next big test is against the Denver Nuggets. With playoff positioning in the West becoming more competitive by the day, the Timberwolves will need to bring the same intensity if they want to keep climbing.
