What happened: LaMelo Ball had 7 assists in the first half against Dallas, one of them a pass inside to Jonathan Kuminga for a slam. Minnesota led 61-52 at the break.
Why it matters: Ball is averaging 6.0 assists per game in 2026-27 through 11 games, so he reached that mark in a single half. Minnesota entered 8-3 against a 7-4 Dallas team.
By the numbers: Ball: 7 first-half assists vs. 6.0 per game in 2026-27 through 11 games. He also averages 18.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in that span.
What to watch: Ball's assist total for the game will be set after the second half.