Minnesota takes on the Dallas Mavericks after Julius Randle scored 41 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves' 133-109 win against the Portland Trail Blazers. Friday's game will be the third meeting

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg is on the right trajectory.

PHOENIX (AP) — Dillon Brooks scored 23 points, Devin Booker had 19 and the Phoenix Suns beat Dallas 120-111 on Tuesday night to send the Mavericks to their eighth consecutive loss. Naji Marshall had 31 points and Cooper Flagg finished with 27 for Dallas,

In Ricky O'Donnell’s latest mock for SB Nation, Dallas was projected to select Hannes Steinbach with the No. 9 overall pick, a move centered on adding size and an elite rebounder. “Steinbach is an elite rebounder with a specialty on the offensive glass, he’s an efficient scorer, and he catches everything thrown at him,” O’Donnell wrote.

Mark Cuban says there are other things that need the league's focus more than tanking.

The Dallas Mavericks enter tonight’s matchup desperately trying to halt an eight‑game losing streak, while the Los Angeles Lakers look to rebound after being forced to field a skeleton lineup in their previous outing.

Get the best Mavericks vs. Lakers predictions ahead of Thursday's clash at Crypto.com Arena. Free NBA picks for February 12.

Dallas heads into the break short-handed and reeling after losing nine straight games, with new injuries to Daniel Gafford and Naji Marshall compounding an already difficult season.