'Pest' Control? Mavs at Timberwolves Preview: Odds, How to Watch and Injury Updates

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland refers to his team as "pests.''

And so it stands to reason that as your Dallas Mavericks play on Thursday night in Minneapolis against a T'Wolves team without the injured Anthony Edwards ...

The Mavs need to be in charge of "pest control.''

"I think we're just pests on the floor,'' said Hyland of Minnesota's small and scrappy lineup. "We're just trying to be pests as best as we can."

The "pests" are 8-3 currently and are on a four-game win-streak that has put them in fifth place in the NBA West standings.

Keep in mind, though, that Dallas is also entering Thursday's matchup on a hot streak. The Mavericks have won three games in a row, one of which was a 125-122 close win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.

While it may be Dusty May's first season as coach, he has guided the Mavericks to a rewarding 7-4 start.

Cooper Flagg the young phenom, has been a big box-score-filling machine for the Mavericks. Flagg had a 43-point, 10-rebound performance against the Pacers, and he is averaging 25.9 points per game on 50.0 percent shooting from the field this season.

Said coach May: "That's how you put up 43 points - when you do a little bit of everything. ... He affects the game in so many ways. He makes the right plays as far as passing. Thank goodness he's on our team.

"It's unbelievable he's a 19-year-old doing this."

Kyrie Irving, the 34-year-old point guard, ranks second on the team with 22.9 points per game, and P.J. Washington is third with 14.6 points per contest for the No. 8 team in the West standings.

Outside of injured player Edwards, LaMelo Ball is the Timberwolves' top scorer with 18.3 points per game. Ayo Dosunmu (18.1) and Jaden McDaniels (17.0) are close behind, and Rudy Gobert leads the team with 12.1 rebounds.

WHO: The 7-4 Dallas Mavericks play the 8-3 Minnesota Timberwolves

WHEN: Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 7 p.m. CT

WHERE: The Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

MEDIA: FAA 29, MavsTV; 105.3 The Fan

INJURIES: Three Mavericks are out. Tarik Biberović is listed with right heel bursitis and has yet to play this season, and the same is true of Dereck Lively II, who is listed with right foot surgery. Sergio de Larrea, out with a right knee sprain, averaged 5.3 points in four appearances.Rookie Morez Johnson is listed as probable. Irving and Flagg were not on Wednesday’s report.

ODDS:  The Minnesota Timberwolves are 5.5-point home favorites.