The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Dallas Mavericks 133-94 on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at Target Center, with Bones Hyland leading all scorers with 24 points and adding eight assists. Minnesota won every quarter, shot 57.8% from the field and improved to 9-3 with the convincing home victory.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Timberwolves Establish an Eight-Point Lead
Minnesota outscored Dallas 34-26 in the opening quarter, establishing an early advantage. The Timberwolves produced at least 30 points in every period, beginning with an opening frame that put the Mavericks in catch-up mode.
Second Quarter: Minnesota Extends Its Advantage
The Timberwolves added a 33-26 second quarter to take a 67-52 halftime lead. Dallas matched its first-quarter scoring total but could not keep pace with Minnesota, which increased its advantage to 15 points before the break.
Third Quarter: A 36-17 Period Creates Separation
The third quarter provided the game’s clearest turning point. Minnesota outscored Dallas 36-17, pairing its highest-scoring period with the Mavericks’ lowest. That 19-point difference extended the lead to 103-69 entering the fourth, leaving Dallas facing a 34-point deficit.
Fourth Quarter: Timberwolves Complete the Win
Minnesota finished with a 30-25 fourth quarter to secure the 133-94 result. The Timberwolves outscored the Mavericks 66-42 after halftime and completed the game without needing overtime.
Key Performers
- Bones Hyland, Minnesota: Led all scorers with 24 points and contributed eight assists, delivering both scoring and playmaking.
- LaMelo Ball, Minnesota: Led the Timberwolves with nine assists as Minnesota finished with 33 assists on 52 made field goals.
- Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota: Collected a team-high nine rebounds, helping the Timberwolves earn a 50-38 advantage on the boards.
- Zaccharie Risacher, Dallas: Led the Mavericks with 22 points and added six rebounds.
- Cooper Flagg, Dallas: Finished with a team-high seven rebounds.
- Caleb Martin, Dallas: Paced the Mavericks with five assists.
NerdSports Stat: Minnesota outscored Dallas 74-44 on two-point baskets. That 30-point advantage accounted for 76.9% of the Timberwolves’ final 39-point winning margin.
Game Analysis: Efficiency Makes the Difference
Minnesota’s shooting efficiency was the defining statistical difference. The Timberwolves made 52 of 90 field-goal attempts, while Dallas finished 35-for-94, or 37.2%. Despite taking four fewer shots, Minnesota made 17 more baskets.
The Timberwolves were also more efficient from beyond the arc, making 15 of 32 attempts for 46.9%. Dallas attempted 48 three-pointers but made only 13, finishing at 27.1%. Minnesota therefore produced two more three-pointers on 16 fewer attempts.
The difference was even larger inside the arc. Minnesota converted 37 of 58 two-point attempts, compared with Dallas’ 22 of 46. That scoring advantage explains why the final margin went well beyond the teams’ relatively small difference in made three-pointers.
Ball movement and rebounding complemented the shooting. Minnesota recorded 33 assists to Dallas’ 26 and collected 12 more rebounds. Hyland and Ball combined for 17 assists, giving the Timberwolves two productive playmakers while Hyland also supplied the game’s highest individual scoring total.
Closing Context: Minnesota Moves to 9-3
The victory improved Minnesota to 9-3 overall and 5-1 at home, while Dallas fell to 7-5 overall and 2-3 on the road. The Timberwolves next host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, November 16, at 5:00 PM PST. The Mavericks return home to face the Boston Celtics on Sunday, November 15, at 3:00 PM PST.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Dallas Mavericks 133-94 on November 12, 2026.
Bones Hyland scored 24 points. His individual shooting percentage was not included in the supplied game statistics.
After the win, the Minnesota Timberwolves sit 9-3 in the Western Conference. Their exact conference ranking was not provided.
Bones Hyland was the standout performer with a game-high 24 points and eight assists.
