The Minnesota Timberwolves relied on four players for nearly all of their points. No wonder they lost to the balanced Dallas Mavericks. Dirk scored 31 points to lead six players in double figures as the Mavericks pulled away late for a 119-112 victory over the Timberwolves, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Minnesota led much of the first three quarters behind Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell and Trenton Hassell, who combined for all but eight of the team's points. They nearly outgunned Dallas, which seized control with a dominant run bridging the final two quarters. The Timberwolves had a 78-76 edge with 2:42 left in the third period before Danny Fortson completed a three-point play to give the Mavericks the lead for good and spark a 29-6 burst. Michael Finley scored six of his 24 points during the stretch and Nowitzki had seven, including the final five, giving Dallas a 105-84 cushion when he buried three free throws with 6:17 left. Steve Nash had 20 points and 13 assists for the Mavericks, who won for the fourth time in five games. Cassell scored 34 points and Garnett collected 27, 22 rebounds and seven assists as the Timberwolves lost for just the third time in their last 15 games. They had won eight of their previous nine on the road.
