Timberwolves put four-game win streak on the line against Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks

The Minnesota Timberwolves take a four-game win streak into Target Center on Thursday night, and the Dallas Mavericks are bringing the hottest young player in the league with them. Cooper Flagg scored 43 points in Dallas' 125-122 win over Indiana, according to the Associated Press via ABC News. The win moved the Mavericks to 7-4, a big turnaround for a team that went 26-56 last season.

Minnesota is still without Anthony Edwards, who has been out since he had arthroscopic knee surgery on Oct. 29, Mavs Moneyball noted. The AP injury report also lists Donte DiVincenzo as out with an Achilles injury. The Wolves have barely slowed down. Benny Hughes of SB Nation's Canis Hoopus credits much of that to Ayo Dosunmu, who has averaged 21.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4 assists in the seven games since he moved into the starting lineup alongside LaMelo Ball.

The main matchup is Flagg against Jonathan Kuminga. Hughes expects Kuminga to draw the assignment because of how he has handled physical forwards like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paolo Banchero and Zion Williamson this season. He also points to Minnesota's game in New Orleans last Friday, when the Wolves briefly tried Jaylen Clark on Williamson and had to move off it within minutes. Flagg came into his 43-point night averaging 24 points, 6.6 rebounds and 7 assists, per Canis Hoopus. Mavs Moneyball added that he has made six of his last 11 three-point attempts over two games. Kyrie Irving, back from an ACL tear and scoring better than 20 a night, gives Dallas a second creator against Ball. Hughes calls it a game that will be decided by "which team's role players can best support their stars."

What it means for Thursday

The season numbers favor Minnesota. At 8-3, the Wolves have outscored opponents by 122 points, about 11.1 per game, scoring 118.1 and allowing 107.0. The win streak includes road wins at Houston and New Orleans and Sunday's 115-100 home win over Utah. Minnesota is 4-1 at Target Center, and the only home loss was a five-pointer to Golden State. Three of its four wins before the streak came by 22 points or more. Dallas sits ninth in the West, per the AP, and this game starts a tough road trip for the Mavericks.

The board for this game has Minnesota as a clear favorite. Novig, one of 12 venues listed, has the Wolves at -199 on the moneyline and Dallas at +190. The spread is Minnesota -5.5 at -102 on both sides. Novig's total is 227.5, with the over at -104 and the under at -100. FanDuel posts the best over price anywhere at 226.5 and -110, so the venues are a point apart on the number. That total is close to the 225 points Minnesota and its opponents have averaged combined this season. Sportsbook hold runs from 3.3% to 5.8% on the moneyline and from 2.9% to 5.2% on the spread, so the gap between the cheapest and most expensive venue is wider than usual.

The market sees a Wolves team that keeps winning without its best player. Flagg's recent shooting is what could make that number look thin.