In the absence of star guard Anthony Edwards, who was out due to an ankle issue, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 points in 17 minutes at the Etihad Arena as the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame the Dallas Mavericks 111-99 in the first NBA preseason game of the year.
The matchup which marked the third time in a year that NBA teams have played in Abu Dhabi after Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks both played two preseason games against each other last season in the United Arab Emirates.
Karl-Anthony Towns powers the @Timberwolves to the #NBAinAbuDhabi-opening win!
Naz Reid: 16 PTS, 7 REB
Luka Garza: 12 PTS, 6 REB
Shake Milton: 12 PTS (5-6 FGM)
Luka Doncic: 25 PTS pic.twitter.com/X1IlDQVPIq— NBA (@NBA) October 5, 2023
The Thursday game also saw Naz Reid add 16 points for Minnesota, which also had Luke Garza and Shake Milton score 12 points each in what was the first of two games that the teams will play in Abu Dhabi, with the rematch on Saturday before they return to the United States.
Slovenian star Luka Doncic scored 25 points in 17 first-half minutes for the Mavericks, and Jaden Hardy added 13, while Kyrie Irving managed just two points and 2 assists in 14 minutes with most of the top players from each team missing in the second half.
