Timberwolves back-to-back home games a rarity

Seldom seen once upon a time, the Timberwolves play back-to-back games at Target Center this weekend, starting with Saturday's game against Dallas and finishing Sunday night against Charlotte.

It's not the ideal scenario for a box office trying to sell tickets to both games, but it's part of a solution for an NBA searching for ways to diminish the wear and tear on players that an 82-game season presents.

This is the only time this season the Wolves play home games on consecutive nights. The Mavericks will have two such situations this season, including a Wolves-Milwaukee weekend this month.

"It seems like it may be a good idea," Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We're willing to try anything. It's a back-to-back, and there's no travel involved with it. You're in your own bed. Ideally, you'd probably prefer not to have any back-to-backs. But if you have to have them, it's probably better to have a home-and-home."

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle remembers his Indiana teams playing consecutive home games the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving during his two separate times there as an assistant and head coach.

"Some teams have had it over the years," Carlisle said. "They are a good way to mitigate the more volatile back-to-backs where you're getting on a plane somewhere and getting in late. To me, the thing would be is it consistent. Is everybody getting one a year or two a year? I'm sure the league is looking at that."

The Wolves' new Iowa team in the G League opened its season Saturday night at home against the Lakeland (Fla.) Magic in Des Moines with a 96-92 comeback victory.

The Wolves last summer signed former L.A. Lakers swingman Anthony Brown to one of the NBA's new two-way contracts, although Thibodeau said he's not sure yet exactly how the team will move Brown back and forth from the NBA to the G League.

"We'll see how it unfolds," Thibodeau said.

The Wolves have left their other two-way spot open in the name of flexibility.

"Part of it is the players and the agents are looking at it, too, and they also want flexibility," Thibodeau said. "I think everyone still is trying to figure it out."

Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki and the Wolves' Jamal Crawford kept on keeping Saturday night: Nowitzki is 39 and in his 20th NBA season. Crawford is 37 and in his 18th.

"It doesn't surprise me. You're seeing guys play a lot longer. I look at Jamal and just watch the way he practices and plays every day. I saw the same thing with Dikembe Mutombo in Houston.

"I think body type has a lot to do with it and your conditioning. Then, of course, you need the good fortune of not being injured."

Nowitzki scored seven points in 21 minutes and Crawford eight in 18.

• Dallas veteran guard J.J. Barea practiced in Target Center's basement health club when he played for the Wolves. On Saturday, he returned to find a complex where a new training facility opened in 2015 and Target Center is gleaming after a $140 million renovation just completed.

"It's beautiful," he said.

"It was fun for the little time I had out there. I always enjoy those matchups. When you get a chance to play the best, it always brings out the best. I had fun for the little time."