​Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesThe Minnesota Timberwolves welcome the Dallas Mavericks to Target Center on Thursday, November 12, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Minnesota is fourth in the Western Conference at 8-3 and has won four straight games. Dallas is ninth at 7-4 and has won three in a row. Both teams are 7-3 over their last 10 games.The Wolves are coming off a 115-100 win over the Utah Jazz and have kept winning without Anthony Edwards. The Mavericks held off the Indiana Pacers 125-122 in their last game. Minnesota brings the league’s best defense into this matchup, while Dallas has two players in Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving who can create a good shot when the first option is taken away. Injury Report WolvesAnthony Edwards: Out (Knee)Donte DiVincenzo: Out (Achilles) MavericksDereck Lively II: Out (Foot)Tarik Biberovic: Out (Heel)Sergio De Larrea: Out (Knee)Morez Johnson Jr.: Out (Shin) Why The Wolves Have The Advantage?Minnesota’s defense is the biggest reason it has stayed near the top of the West without Edwards. The Wolves lead the NBA with a 105.1 defensive rating, and their 116.2 offensive rating gives them the league’s second-best net rating at plus-11.1. They also average 118.1 points, 48.8 rebounds, and 14.5 offensive rebounds per game.With Lively out, Minnesota can make Dallas pay for playing smaller by getting to the glass and giving its shooters another chance.LaMelo Ball has handled the lead guard role well, averaging 18.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.7 steals while shooting 44.9% from the field and 38.5% from three. His pull-up range forces defenders to meet him high off screens, which opens up room for Rudy Gobert to roll. If Dallas brings help from the wing, Ball can find the shooter before the defense rotates back.Ayo Dosunmu has stepped up with 18.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. He’s shooting 42.1% from the field but 46.7% from three, giving Minnesota someone who can punish Dallas for helping off him.Jaden McDaniels adds 17.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists on 51.3% shooting. His size gives Minnesota another player who can finish inside, and he’s an obvious candidate to take on the Flagg assignment. Why The Mavericks Have The Advantage?Dallas has a 114.7 offensive rating, a 110.2 defensive rating, and a plus-4.5 net rating. The Mavericks average 114.9 points and shoot 47.8% from the field. They also average 8.7 steals and 5.6 blocks. Against a team that can extend possessions on the glass, Dallas can make up some of that ground by forcing turnovers and attacking before Minnesota’s defense sets up.Flagg leads Dallas with 25.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.9 assists while shooting 50.0% from the field and 29.2% from three. Minnesota can live with some of his outside shots, but letting him build momentum toward the paint is a different story. He can finish over smaller defenders or find Daniel Gafford if Gobert steps up.If the Wolves keep Gobert close to the basket, Dallas ca