Anthony Edwards’ Heroics Push Dallas Mavericks Into Longest Slump In Decades

Last Updated:February 21, 2026, 12:12 IST

Anthony Edwards powers Minnesota Timberwolves past Dallas Mavericks with 40 points.

Anthony Edwards led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a decisive victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, scoring 40 points and condemning the latter to their 10th successive defeat, the team’s worst slump since 1998.

Fresh off his MVP victory at the All-Star Game in Los Angeles, Edwards also grabbed six rebounds. Rudy Gobert contributed with a double-double, scoring 22 points and bagging 17 rebounds.

The Mavericks, down by 18 points in the second quarter, almost staged a brilliant comeback. They managed to tie the game at 103-103 with just under seven minutes remaining, but Edwards’s performance bagged a 122-111 win for the Timberwolves.

“We take pride in winning clutch games," Edwards said. “We struggled with that last year. We came out aggressively at the start but went flat, allowing them to make a run. Basketball is a game of runs, and they played really hard. Big shout out to those guys."

Edwards scored 14 of his points in the final quarter, helping the Timberwolves achieve their eighth win in 11 games and securing fifth place in the Western Conference.

The Mavericks, on the other hand, remain in 12th place in the Western Conference, outside playoff contention, with their rookie phenom Cooper Flagg sidelined because of a foot injury.

Elsewhere, the Oklahoma City Thunder resumed play after the NBA All-Star Game break with a 105-86 victory over the struggling Brooklyn Nets, solidifying their lead at the top of the Western Conference.

Despite missing reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander because of an abdominal strain and star guard-forward Jalen Williams, the Thunder showed their depth, with half their points coming from the bench.

Jared McCain, recently acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers, led the team with 21 points and praised the Thunder’s chemistry. “Me coming in, just trying to learn the defensive principles… there is a reason why they’re so good at it," he said.

In other games, the Cleveland Cavaliers extended their winning streak to seven games with a 118-113 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. The Cavaliers’ hot streak has accelerated since signing former MVP James Harden earlier this month.

Harden scored 18 points on Friday, but was outshone by Donovan Mitchell, who scored 32 points and Jarrett Allen, who contributed 26 points and 14 rebounds.

Later on Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers beat their local rivals, the Clippers, in an intense derby, 125-122.

Luka Doncic scored 38 points, adding six rebounds and 11 assists, while LeBron James contributed 13 points and 11 assists.

Nikola Jokic scored 32 points as the Denver Nuggets handed the Portland Trail Blazers a crushing 157-103 loss. The 54-point margin was the second-largest win in Nuggets franchise history.

(With AFP Inputs)

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