Keeping the Wolves away from the door

Minnesota has lost seven of eight and it looks like it will be eight of nine.

The Mavericks played a solid third quarter and take a 16-point lead into the fourth.

There is nothing notable about this, other than the Mavericks need the win a whole lot more than the Wolves, who are looking for all the lottery balls they can get.

By the way, Dirk Nowitzki has 21 points, the 17th in a row he's topped 20.

--Eddie Sefko