Wolves top Mavericks 119-101; Naz Reid takes over game with seven three-pointers

DALLAS – Every time Naz Reid lined up a three-pointer Thursday, the crowd at American Airlines Center seemed to groan louder and louder.

The rims in the arena have the most sensitive microphones in the NBA, so every time Reid sank another deep one, the sound of the splash added that much more anguish for the hometown crowd.

"I think we should get them at home. I like the mic'd up rims," Reid said. "... You can just hear every type of miss or make."

Reid had eight of those resounding makes, seven from three-point range. By the end of the night, fans just behind press row were Googling Reid's history and wondering where the heck he came from as he posted some career numbers in a 119-101 Timberwolves victory over the Mavericks.

Reid scored 27 points, which tied a career high in games he did not start, and those seven threes were a career best and as many as Dallas had made all night.

He also made as many as the rest of his teammates, and that's why Reid's big night was so important. He was an injection of offensive life on a night Anthony Edwards struggled in his return to the floor in his on-again, off-again battle with a hip pointer.

Reid had 19 of his points in the first half, and that helped the 18-5 Wolves compensate for an awful start to the night when they fell behind 17-2.

"The great thing about Naz's game is it all came in the flow," coach Chris Finch said. "We didn't call a single play for him. He just spaced the floor well, was patient. Guys started finding him and that's what we needed to do in the first seven or eight minutes of the game. That's the great thing I love about him. We almost never call a play for him."

Reid's offense was just the jolt of energy the Wolves needed to get back in the game. They cut Dallas' lead to four by the end of the first quarter and one by halftime. As they have done to many opponents this season, they suffocated Dallas in the second half, like a snake that had curled around its prey and was ready to strike. Suddenly, Dallas was facing tougher shots, missing more than they made (42% overall, 1-for-14 from three-point range) and the Wolves were cruising with a double-digit lead for most of the fourth quarter. Luka Doncic had 39 points and 13 assists for Dallas, but the Wolves still won going away.

"They had that huge start in the beginning of the game. We didn't let up," Reid said. "We came out at halftime with the mindset to have our foot on their throats. … Keep it business-like. I think we just did the right thing and all had the same mindset."

The Wolves notched their league-leading sixth victory when trailing by double digits at any point in the game and they have yet to drop consecutive games this season. Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 17 rebounds while Nickeil Alexander-Walker provided tough defense and 13 key points off the bench.

Edwards finished with nine points on 3-for-19 with 11 assists, but he didn't let his off shooting night affect his defense or his ability to find teammates, specifically guard Mike Conley for an open corner three that put the Wolves up 16 with 3 minutes, 21 seconds to play.

"That just shows his growth and his playmaking ability and understanding, 'My gravity is going to help me create advantages and disadvantages for our team,' " Alexander-Walker said. "And he made the right read damn near every time."

Three of Edwards' assists set up Reid for threes with all of them coming in the first half, as Reid introduced himself to a crowd that won't soon forget him.

"All the guys were getting me rolling," Reid said. "They were excited as well. Just kept yelling [at me] to keep going. That's something that you always want."