Mavericks Vs Timberwolves: Timberwolves 122-111 Mavericks Game Recap

The Mavericks vs timberwolves matchup on Feb. 20, 2026 ended with the Timberwolves winning 122-111 at Target Center, extending Dallas’s losing streak to 10 games in the team’s first contest since the All-Star break. The result matters now because it shifts the Mavericks’ season context and reinforces Minnesota’s position in the Western Conference pecking order.

Mavericks Vs Timberwolves game recap

The game, scheduled for 6: 30 PM Central (7: 30 PM ET) at Target Center, unfolded largely as a contest between Minnesota’s size and Dallas’s search for dependable guard play. Dallas fell behind early and, while it fought back enough to avoid a blowout, could not close the gap. The final score was 122-111, and the loss made it the Mavericks’ tenth straight defeat since the losing streak began before the All-Star break.

Player grades and performances

Several individual performances shaped the outcome. A newcomer identified as Jones posted his best game in his short time with Dallas, pairing with Brandon Williams for efficient production at the point guard spot. That duo’s play provided one of the few sustained positives on offense.

Marshall struggled from the field, finishing 5-for-16, a cold night that undercut his overall contributions and likely affected Dallas’s scoring ceiling. Middleton offered steady scoring and helped keep the team connected when the first-half margin threatened to spiral. Washington produced solid counting numbers but was exposed defensively at times and missed a pair of free throws that could have tied the game in the third quarter. Gafford’s stat line looked acceptable on paper, but he was outplayed at times by Minnesota’s interior defenders and by Dallas’s own bench center, who produced a standout outing in limited minutes. Thompson endured a poor stretch early, going 0-for-5 before hitting a three before the third-quarter buzzer and contributing more positively in the fourth.

Key takeaways

• The Mavericks’ losing streak reached 10 games in their first outing after the All-Star break.
• Point guard play from Jones and Brandon Williams was a rare bright spot amid offensive inconsistency.
• Bench contributions, notably from Bagley in limited minutes, were meaningful and contrasted with several starters’ off nights.

What this means next

Dallas now faces a stretch in which roster construction and short-term goals come into sharper focus; a line in the coverage stated that "the Mavericks’ race for a top five pick starts now, " framing the franchise’s immediate outlook. Minnesota, sitting in the Western Conference’s 6-seed at the time of the preview, reinforced the case that its frontcourt advantage is a decisive factor: if Minnesota’s bigs continue to control the paint and convert second-chance opportunities, that approach should sustain the team’s climb in the standings.

Missed shots and late-game free-throw lapses were observable indicators that affected the final margin. The Mavericks will need clearer scoring from perimeter players and more consistent interior defense to reverse the current trajectory. For Minnesota, the task is to translate this victory into regularity rather than a one-off performance after the break.

Timing note: the game took place Feb. 20, 2026, with the scheduled local start of 6: 30 PM Central, which is 7: 30 PM ET.