Live report: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, Game 4 in Dallas

The Timberwolves and Mavericks are playing tonight in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference finals, with Dallas leading 3-0. Staff writer Chris Hine is filing live reports from American Airlines Arena.

Gameview, with live stats and matchup information

8:03 p.m.: Anthony Edwards powers Wolves to first-quarter lead

Behind 14 points from Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves lead the Mavericks 27-20 after the first quarter.

To start the night, the Wolves switched up their initial defensive matchups, as Edwards guarded Luka Doncic and Jaden McDaniels had Kyrie Irving. Doncic started hot with eight early points as the Mavericks and Wolves were tied 10-10 halfway through the quarter.

But after Dwight Powell checked in for Daniel Gafford — during the time when the injured Dereck Lively would normally be in the game — the Wolves attacked the rim with success. Minnesota went on a 10-0 run for a 20-10 lead with 2 minutes, 50 seconds left. Mike Conley had three steals in the quarter.

Edwards found success scoring from all levels, as he hit a three, from the midrange and got to the rim. He attempted eight free throws in the quarter, though he missed three.

Dallas shot 6-for-29 from the field and no player outside of Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving had a field goal in the first quarter until the 1:29 mark.

The Wolves were 10-for-16 but had five turnovers, including a bad one by Edwards with seconds left that enabled the Mavs to finish the quarter on an 8-3 run.

5:25 p.m.: Shootaround chatter on KAT’s shooting

As Karl-Anthony Towns was speaking to the media following Timberwolves shootaround Tuesday morning, Anthony Edwards walked by the crowd and shouted “KAT’s hitting eight threes tonight, for all y’all asking.”

“That’s a prediction right there,” Towns said. “That would be a lovely one.”

If the Wolves are going to extend the series against Dallas, they need Towns to shake off his struggles in this series and get back to the player who helped them win the series against the Nuggets.

Towns is 15-for-54 so far in the series, and he’s 3-for-22 from three-point range. Towns said he wasn’t trying to do anything out of the norm to get himself going in Game 4.

“I know I put the work in so I’m confident to go out there, shoot the ball and the plan, as always, is to see it go through the net,” Towns said.

As for the team’s mindset overall facing elimination, Towns said the team hasn’t lost belief that it could come back in the series, especially given they faced elimination against Denver and came back to win the series.

“I know when that series got to 3-2 I heard a lot of murmurs — not outside but just people in general around the city or around us. And the series was over to a lot of people. But everyone in our locker room believes so as long as everyone in that locker room believes, anything is possible with us.”

Wolves coach Chris Finch has confidence in Towns: “I told him, ‘The past is unrelated to the future. Trust your talent. Stay confident … shots will fall.'”

4:16 p.m.: Injury report

For Dallas, Dereck Lively II is likely out after suffering a neck sprain in Game 3, but the Mavericks could be getting an added reinforcement on their front line in Maxi Kleber, who could return from a shoulder injury for Game 4. Kleber was upgraded to questionable ahead of Game 4 while Lively was listed as doubtful.

If the Wolves can force Game 5, it would be Thursday night at Target Center.