It is not as though, at this stage, there were any doubts that these Timberwolves can perform without Anthony Edwards. Although the first few games after the guard’s injury were a bit of a struggle, the passing days have shown the great potential of the team away from their star and have seen them pile up wins. But for some reason they seem to be getting better almost every night. And tonight, against the Mavericks, they reached the high point of their season. The high point… for now.
Because, with an overwhelming 133-94 victory over one of the fashionable young teams, Finch’s side showed they are capable of big things and that, with barely 12 games played, everything is fitting together better and better. The style, the rotations, the defence and, of course, the new leader. Because, while waiting for Ant to return, that is what LaMelo Ball is now. And the role is far from being too big for him.
Conductor of the orchestra
It did take him a couple of minutes to start imposing himself, though, as the first quarter was the only one that offered us any trace of competitive basketball at the Target Center. Dallas’s defensive pressure caused the hosts some turnover problems, and they immediately saw every ball that slipped from their hands taken to their basket and turned into two points for the Texans within seconds. In fact, somewhat overwhelmed in that respect, they needed a couple of sparks from Bones Hyland to wake up. But as soon as they did and Ball returned to the court, there was no contest.
LaMelo finished with around 22 points and 9 assists, which are not necessarily the most spectacular numbers, but his basketball was the living image of a Timberwolves team that is having fun and believes in everything it does. He shone from three, attacked the paint, and knew how to manipulate the defence to hand out baskets to his team-mates so that they had chances to shine. And they did. In every sense.
LaMelo Ball vs Dallas: 22 PTS | 9 AST | 2 STL | 8/14 FG | 6/10 3FG https://t.co/lkJbmoYlwd
— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) November 13, 2026
Hyland did it from three with his 5/6, McDaniels and Kuminga attacked the rim, Dosunmu was the all-rounder, Gobert and Beringer finished in the paint… Aware of their roles, each one focused on his own job to shape an attack that was raised to its maximum power by the direction of the former Hornets man. And all of it while their defence put the brakes on a duo that had been wreaking havoc wherever it went.
Developing story
