The Wolves wrap up back-to-back games tonight in Dallas against a Mavs team missing star Dirk Nowitzki.
He's out with swelling in his right knee brought on during Monday's overtime home victory over Boston, although Mavs coach Rick Carlisle before the game said he didn't know if the condition was from falling a couple times during the time, banging knees with someone or the fact that Monday's game was Dallas' -- and Dirk's -- second game in as many night.
The Mavs also will play without guard Ray Felton, who's out with an eye injury.
The Wolves will play without Kevin Garnett, who's resting on the second night of back-to-back games, but they'll get Nikola Pekovic back in the lineup. He rested last night in New Orleans, where the Pelicans rallied to win 114-99 after they trailed by 17 points in the first quarter.
Before tonight's game, Sam Mitchell seemed almost upbeat over the fact that his team has had at least a 17-point lead nine times in 43 games so far this season but are just 4-5 in those games. He said he's encouraged by those -- wondering out loud if the Wolves ever had a lead last season in winning just 16 games -- and predicting his team will learn how to close out those games before too long.
