What happened: The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night at Target Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Central time in Minneapolis. Both Western Conference teams enter the contest on active winning streaks.
Why it matters: Minnesota enters at 8-3 through 11 games, holding fifth place in the Western Conference. Dallas sits at 7-4 through 11 games, ranking eighth in the conference standings. The matchup marks the opening stop of a multi-game road trip for Dallas.
By the numbers: Minnesota Timberwolves: 8-3, 5th in Western Conference, streak W4, won 115-100 vs. Utah. Dallas Mavericks: 7-4, 8th in Western Conference, streak W3, won 125-122 vs. Indiana.
What to watch: Dallas continues its road schedule after Thursday's matchup, while Minnesota seeks a fifth consecutive victory.