Parsons, Mavs Start Fast In 128-101 Win Over Timberwolves
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DALLAS (AP) — Chandler Parsons scored 29 points and the Dallas Mavericks started fast in their first game since getting booed by the home crowd during a bad opening half, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-101 Sunday night.
Parsons scored 13 straight Dallas points in a stretch covering the second and third quarters to help the Mavericks restore a 20-point lead they built in the first 11 minutes of their sixth straight victory against Minnesota.
Two nights after scoring 27 points to help Dallas rally from 23 down in the second quarter of an overtime victory against Denver, Parsons was 10 of 15 from the field, made four of seven from 3-point range and hit all five of his free throws.
Shabazz Muhammad scored 24 points to lead the Timberwolves, who dropped to 1-10 on the second night of a back-to-back after rallying for a win at New Orleans.
Dirk Nowitzki and Parsons sparked the quick start, both scoring 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range, in the first quarter. The Mavericks went up 39-19 on Nowitzki's layup for his last points of the game with 1:15 left in the first quarter.
The 7-foot German left early in the third quarter with his fourth foul, and the Mavericks were up by 26 points when he finally came back late in the quarter. Apparently realizing they could rest the 37-year-old, the Dallas coaches pulled him again 24 seconds after he returned.
With Nowitzki and all but one starter for both teams sitting the entire fourth quarter, Dallas' lead reached 31 as Parsons had to settle for finishing two points shy of his season high while getting six rebounds and four assists.
Wesley Matthews scored 15 points, and backcourt mate Deron Williams had 10 points and nine of the Mavericks' season-high 34 assists. Dallas had its largest margin of victory a week after beating Philadelphia by 26.
Dallas shot 64 percent in the first quarter with 13 assists on 16 baskets.
Muhammad scored 11 points in the second quarter and the Timberwolves got as close as seven before the Mavericks pushed their lead back to 65-54 at halftime when Parsons hit a pullup jumper over Karl-Anthony Towns from just inside the arc.
Andrew Wiggins scored 15 points, and Towns had 12 points and 11 rebounds a night after getting 30 and 15. Zach LaVine, the only starter for either team to play in the fourth quarter, had 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting with nine rebounds after scoring 25 against the Pelicans.
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: The Timberwolves won for the 17th time in franchise history at New Orleans when trailing by at least 10 points in the fourth quarter. Their record is 17-562 in such games. ... Ricky Rubio had 14 points and five assists.
Mavericks: Newly elected baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and former Texas Rangers star Michael Young both had front-row seats. ... Dallas has played a league-high 10 overtime games coming off a stretch of four in six games. That included a franchise-record three straight.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Host Washington on Wednesday.
Mavericks: Host Orlando on Tuesday.
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