Kyrie Irving starred for the Mavericks, scoring a game-high 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting. He also dished out 8 assists and grabbed 5 rebounds.

“It’s always fun to play against a team that knocked you out of the playoffs,” Irving said. “I wanted to come out and play with a chip on my shoulder tonight.”

All-Star guard Luka Dončić had a quiet night by his standards, scoring 18 points on 5-of-14 shooting. However, he contributed 9 rebounds and 7 assists.

The Timberwolves struggled to find their offensive rhythm, shooting just 39.8% from the field. Star forward Karl-Anthony Towns was held to 15 points on 6-of-17 shooting.

“We didn’t play with the same intensity and focus that we had in the playoffs,” said Towns. “We need to learn from this and get better.”

The win for the Mavericks shows that they are still a contender in the Western Conference. They have a dynamic duo in Irving and Dončić, and they have a deep roster that can compete with any team.

The loss for the Timberwolves is a setback, but it is still early in the season. They have a talented team, and they will be looking to bounce back.

“We have a long way to go,” said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. “But I believe in this team, and I know we can compete with anyone.”