7:30 P.M. at Dallas • American Airlines Center • FSN, 830-AM
Preview: This should be the game fans have been waiting for since Ricky Rubio went down with a severe ankle sprain Nov. 7. Barring any setbacks, Rubio will return to action, even if he's not 100 percent. The Wolves will need as many healthy bodies as possible, considering the problems Dallas has given them this season. The Mavericks have won both games, scoring 131 points on the Wolves in Dallas on Nov. 15 and winning by 23 points at Target Center on Jan. 21. The Mavericks, sixth in the West standings, have won two games in a row, both without Dirk Nowitzki, who was out because of illness.
Players to watch: Wolves F Andrew Wiggins is coming off a career-high 33 points vs. Cleveland. C Nikola Pekovic is coming off his first double-double since returning to action seven games ago. Mavericks G Monta Ellis is averaging 18.5 points and 3.0 rebounds vs. the Wolves this season, and F Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 15.5 points and 6.0 rebounds. F Chandler Parsons is shooting 56 percent in two games vs. Minnesota this season.
Numbers: The Mavericks, second in the league in scoring (106.9 points per game), have shot a combined 53.5 percent in two victories over the Wolves this season; Dallas is 16-1 when shooting better than 50 percent.
Injuries: Wolves G Rubio (left ankle), G Mo Williams (hip) and G Zach LaVine (left ankle) are listed as questionable. Wolves coach Flip Saunders said after Saturday's game he expects Rubio and Williams to be available. F Robbie Hummel (broken right hand) and F Shabazz Muhammad (oblique strain) are out. Mavs G Rajon Rondo (facial injury) is out. F Parsons (illness) is probable.
