The Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves are two Western Conference teams with a long history against each other. Their games are often close and full of great plays. But in the 2025-26 season, the Timberwolves have had the upper hand. This article looks at the most recent matchup between these two teams, breaks down the player stats, and explains what happened on the court. We will also look back at earlier games this season and the full head-to-head history between the two clubs.
A Quick Look at the Rivalry
The Mavericks and Timberwolves have played each other many times over the years. Since 2004, the two teams have met 85 times. Dallas has won 49 of those games, while Minnesota has won 36. If you look at the full regular season history, the two teams have played 143 games, with Dallas leading 78 wins to 65.
This shows that Dallas has usually had the edge in this matchup. But recent form tells a different story. In the 2025-26 season, Minnesota has been the stronger team every time these two sides have met.
March 31, 2026: Timberwolves Blow Out Mavericks 124-94
The most one-sided game of the season between these two teams happened on March 31, 2026, at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Dallas Mavericks by a score of 124-94. This was one of Minnesota’s best performances of the year, and it showed just how deep their roster is.
Minnesota controlled the game from the very beginning. They shot the ball extremely well, hitting 53.1 percent of their shots from the field and a hot 45.2 percent from three-point range. Their attack at the rim was even more impressive. The Timberwolves made 82.9 percent of their shots near the basket, while Dallas only managed 64.0 percent in the same area. This gap made a big difference in the final score.
The game was decided in the first and third quarters. Minnesota outscored Dallas by 12 points in the first quarter and by 13 points in the third. Dallas managed to stay close during the second quarter, but they could never slow down Minnesota’s fast-break game or stop their second-chance points. By the end of the night, the Timberwolves had scored 68 points in the paint and added 33 points on fast breaks. That kind of scoring is very hard for any team to defend.
Player Stats That Stood Out
Julius Randle was Minnesota’s best player on the night. He finished with 24 points and was very efficient, making most of his shots close to the basket. His performance was even more special because Randle is from the Dallas area, so playing well in his hometown meant a lot to him.
Minnesota also got great support from the bench. Their reserve players scored 53 points combined, which was far more than what Dallas got from its bench. Seven different Timberwolves players scored in double figures, showing just how balanced their team was that night.
On the Dallas side, the game did not go well for the veterans. Klay Thompson had a rough shooting night, making just 1 of his 8 shots for only 5 points, which is a shooting percentage of 12.5 percent. Khris Middleton also struggled, scoring only 9 points and turning the ball over 5 times, the most turnovers of any player in the game.
The one bright spot for Dallas was rookie Cooper Flagg. As the number one pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg has been a key player for the Mavericks all season, and he gave fans something to be excited about even in a tough loss. Still, the rest of the Dallas roster could not keep up with Minnesota’s depth and teamwork.
This win moved the Timberwolves to a record of 46-29, putting them in fifth place in the Western Conference, just half a game ahead of the Houston Rockets. Meanwhile, Dallas continued to struggle with a record of 24-51, one of the worst stretches in the team’s history.
Other Recent Meetings This Season
The March 31 blowout was not the only time these two teams played each other this season. Minnesota also won the two earlier matchups, and each game had its own standout performances.
January 28, 2026: Timberwolves Win 118-105
In this game, the Mavericks were short-handed, meaning several of their players were unable to play due to injury or other reasons. Minnesota took advantage of this. Julius Randle led all scorers with 31 points, and Naz Reid added 23 points off the bench. The Timberwolves controlled the game for most of the night and closed it out with a comfortable 118-105 win.
February 20, 2026: Timberwolves Win 122-111
This game featured one of the best individual performances of the season for either team. Anthony Edwards, who had just returned from the All-Star Game with the MVP award, scored 40 points to lead Minnesota to a 122-111 win over Dallas. P.J. Washington tried to keep Dallas in the game with strong effort on both ends of the floor, but Edwards was simply too much to handle that night.
Season Series and Head-to-Head History
Looking at the 2025-26 season as a whole, Minnesota has won every matchup against Dallas so far. This is a big change from the historical head-to-head record, where Dallas has usually come out on top over the years.
Part of the reason for this shift is that Dallas has dealt with a lot of change and difficulty this season. Injuries, a lower win total, and a young roster still learning to play together have all played a role. Minnesota, on the other hand, has built a deep and well-rounded team. Their combination of star power from players like Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, along with strong bench scoring, has made them hard to beat.
What These Games Tell Us
If you look across all three matchups this season, a few clear patterns show up.
First, Minnesota’s depth has been the biggest factor in these wins. In each game, it was not just one or two players carrying the team. Multiple players stepped up to score, rebound, and make plays. This kind of balance is hard for other teams to match, especially when a team like Dallas is missing key players.
Second, Dallas has struggled to defend the paint and stop fast breaks. In the March 31 game especially, Minnesota’s ability to score close to the basket and run the floor quickly created problems that Dallas could not solve. Good interior defense and quick transition defense are two things Dallas will need to improve if they want to compete with Minnesota in the future.
Third, individual performances have made a real difference. Anthony Edwards’ 40-point game in February and Julius Randle’s strong all-around play in both January and March show that when Minnesota’s stars play well, the team is very hard to beat.
For Dallas, the season has been a difficult one, but there have been some positives. Cooper Flagg’s play as a rookie has given fans hope for the future, even during a season full of losses. Building around a young core like this takes time, and this season may end up being an important learning experience for the team.
Final Thoughts
The Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves have a long and competitive history, but the 2025-26 season has clearly belonged to Minnesota. Their depth, balanced scoring, and strong play from their stars have led to three wins over Dallas so far this season, including a dominant 124-94 win on March 31. Dallas, meanwhile, has leaned on young talent like Cooper Flagg while working through a tough stretch as a team.
Whether you are a fan of the Mavericks, the Timberwolves, or just enjoy watching great basketball, these matchups have offered plenty of exciting moments and standout stats worth following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the most recent Mavericks vs Timberwolves game?
The Minnesota Timberwolves won the most recent matchup, beating the Dallas Mavericks 124-94 on March 31, 2026, at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Which player scored the most points in the March 31, 2026 game?
Julius Randle led all scorers with 24 points for the Timberwolves. He was very efficient, especially with his shots close to the basket.
How have the Mavericks and Timberwolves done against each other overall?
Looking at the full regular season history, Dallas leads the all-time series with 78 wins to Minnesota’s 65 wins out of 143 games. However, Minnesota has won every game between the two teams during the 2025-26 season.
