T'Wolves gave it their best

Young rebuilding teams have two tendencies. One is that they are prone to getting blown out. The second is they play hard.

The Timberwolves lost for the 11th time in 13 games tonight, but they did not embarrass themselves, and actually they haven't done that much this year. Only four of those 11 losses have been by double digits and they played reasonably well against the Mavericks.

Dallas still won the game 109-103, but the Wolves reduced a 20-point deficit midway through the third quarter to three points midway through the fourth quarter. Avery Johnson is not going to be that happy, but then neither are the Wolves.

-- Jan Hubbard