Will Luka Doncic Play Tonight? Dallas Mavericks vs Minnesota Timberwolves: Injury Updates, Expected Lineups, and Game Prediction

The Dallas Mavericks play the Minnesota Timberwolves in an exciting Western Conference battle tonight. They play hosts at the American Airlines Center and will go toe-to-toe at 8:30 pm ET.

The Mavericks have won two out of their last three games after recovering from a six-game losing streak. Dallas currently holds a record of 10-14 and they beat the Warriors in their previous game, despite Stephen Curry dropping 57 points against them. Luka Doncic won the game for the Mavs, and will hope he can carry that momentum into tonight’s game as well.

With just six wins in 23 games, the 2020-21 season has been forgetful so far for the Timberwolves. After getting the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, things were supposed to get better, but it has been the opposite.

Dallas Mavericks expected lineup

The Mavericks have a fully fit team, except for James Johnson, who is listed as questionable due to a knee injury. They are likely to stick to their original lineup, which features Luka Doncic and Josh Richardson as the guards, Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber as the forwards, and Kristaps Porzingis at center.

Minnesota Timberwolves expected lineup

D’Angelo Russell, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Juancho Hernangomez are all questionable for the game. Russell has missed the T-Wolves’ last four games, while Towns has been out of action since December. The Timberwolves are desperate for them to return, and will have an enormous boost if they play.

But Minnesota’s lineup is unlikely to change. Ricky Rubio and Malik Beasley will start as their guards, Anthony Edwards and Jarred Vanderbilt will start as their forwards, while Naz Reid will start as the center.

Prediction

A return for Towns and Russell could help the Timberwolves, but it won’t be enough to beat the Mavericks. Despite their recent struggles, the Mavs have enough firepower in Doncic and Porzingis to take down the Timberwolves. A win is imminent for Dallas, but it could be a close game. It will be their 11th win of the season, and a step further towards making the playoffs.