MINNEAPOLIS — Before their bout this evening, Mavericks head coach Dusty May sang high praises of the Timberwolves ‘ defense this season.

“I think they do a great job of guarding one-on-one,” said May, in his first season coaching at the professional level, after eight seasons at the Division I collegiate level. “They’ve got the size dimension, athleticism — they’ve got a competitive spirit about them — especially this team now, like they have a joy playing the game, and competitive spirit.”

Mavericks head coach Dusty May on the Timberwolves #1 ranked defense (per defensive rating):

“I think they do a great job of guarding one-on-one, they’ve got the size dimension, athleticism, they’ve got a competitive spirit about them — especially this team.”

Full quote 👇 pic.twitter.com/q2P64ZWuoV

— Jack Azoulay-Haron (@AzoulayHaron) November 13, 2026

Minnesota’s defense ranks atop the association so far this season, leading the pack in defensive rating at 105.8, per Databallr.

May was highly complimentary of the overall team defense being played by the Wolves, though he singled out an X-factor — a player who clearly makes the ship sail: Rudy Gobert.

“Obviously, you have Rudy (Gobert), who can be disruptive at the rim, who’s had great instincts around the basket,” said May. “So they just have a lot of the prerequisites to be a really good defensive team, and they look connected as well.”

Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, is still at the top of his game defensively, leading the league in Defensive DPM (+3.9) and Defensive Shot Quality Influence at -1.2, per Databallr.

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“You can funnel things to the rim because he's going to change shots and make people not want to shoot close to the rim, and he's done that for years,” said veteran forward Trey Lyles, who has reunited with the defensive stalwart after spending two seasons together in Utah nearly a decade ago. “That's why he's one of the best defenders ever. So, I mean, it's ideal to have somebody like that back there, close to the rim, and it just helps guys out mentally to know that ‘okay, if I'm a step behind, I know Rudy's there.'”

The Timberwolves will have a tall task to contain the duo of Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving on Thursday night, as they face the Mavericks for the first time this season. Head coach Chris Finch does not anticipate the team shying away from an early challenge.

“You gotta show them multiple bodies, like you do with all great players,” said Finch, in his seventh season at the helm for the Timberwolves. “You got to be really good closing out when the next pass is made. And, you know, we've been pretty good at that this year, being able to cover ground — they're gonna put you in fly-around situations just because they're able to get to where they need to go with the spot — to their spot. Have help, you know, Rudy's gonna be big for us tonight, for sure, that size in the middle, and then we just gotta try to, you know, fly around beyond that.”