The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-112 Monday night at the Target Center.

Al Jefferson came out strong in his first game after sitting out the last two games with a suspension. After hitting his first five shots and scoring 11 points in the first six minutes of the game to help the Timberwolves take a 19-9 lead. He scored a game-high 36 points and pulled down 13 boards.

Despite trailing for most of the opening quarter the visitors came back with a storm to end the opening period. The Mavericks outscored the Timberwolves 34-27 to take the lead.

Shawn Marion led the visitors in scoring with 29 points. Dirk Nowitzki added 24 points and Caron Butler finished with 23 points.

The Timberwolves had six players to reach double figures. Ryan Hollins and Jonny Flynn each scored 13 points. Ryan Gomes added 12 points. Corey Brewer and Ramon Sessions each scored 11 points in the loss.

Brewer finished the game one of seven from three-point land to extend his three-point streak to 28 straight games which is a team record for the Timberwolves.

Minnesota struggled throughout the contest from behind the arc going (4 of 22) 18.2 percent.

The Timberwolves are 14-50 for the season and 9-23 at home.

The Mavericks (44-21) haven't lost since Feb. 16 at Oklahoma City and have climbed into second place in the Western Conference.

The Houston Rockets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves for the eleventh straight time 112-98 Saturday night.

Houston has been struggling as of late only winning three of its last 11 games til the victory against Minnesota.

Houston closed the first quarter and with a 16-3 run and they closed the third quarter with a 9-0 run.

"We play in spurts," Adelman said. "We always seem to do that. We get a lead and then get comfortable and let the other team come back. And then we have to makes plays."

The Timberwolves came out strong in the second quarter and made a run at the Rockets. But Houston would lead 60-50 at the break.

Minnesota trailed by 20 points with 8:35 to play in the game, but went on a 17-4 run of their own to cut the deficit to seven with 2:45 to play. But with the score 99-92 Minnesota's Ryan Hollins followed up a Luis Scola jump shot with the shot clock expiring with a terrible in-bounds pass, which led to a Kevin Martin 3-pointer and Houston's lead remained in double-figures for the rest of the game.

"It was a fairly typical game for us," Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis said. "Pockets of playing really well and pockets of playing really poorly. Turnovers once again hurt us. ... But [Houston] does a good job of playing together as a team. They move the ball, they keep the basket clear and they read defenses really well. They did a good job out there. They deserved to win. They earned the win."

Six players for the Timberwolves reached double figures in scoring. The visitors were led in scoring by Kevin Love who scored 20 points. Ryan Gomes added 17 points. Ryan Hollins chipped in 15 points. Jonny Flynn and Ramon Sessions each scored 14 points. Small forward Corey Brewer added 12 points.