DALLAS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 26 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held on for a 105-99 Christmas Day victory over Dallas after Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic left the game with a strained left calf. A rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals won by Dallas fell flat when Doncic pulled up lame while running a play late in the second quarter. Then it got wild when the Mavs erased almost all of a 28-point deficit in the second half. It was Doncic’s second game back after missing two with a left heel contusion. Kyrie Irving scored 39 points but was short on a 3-pointer that would have put the Mavs ahead in the final minute.
Milwaukee is looking to prolong its three-game home win streak with a victory against Brooklyn. Thursday’s meeting is the first of the season for the teams. Milwaukee is 14-11 against the Eastern Conference, and Brooklyn is 5-15 against conference opponents.
Pregame at 6:30pm. Tipoff at 7pm on AM1240 & 96.5FM.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The playoff-bound Green Bay Packers believe they can make a legitimate run at their first Super Bowl appearance since their 2010 championship season. An improving defense gives them plenty of reason for confidence. The Packers followed up a seven-sack performance in a 30-13 victory at Seattle by producing the first shutout of the NFL season, a 34-0 playoff-clinching blowout of the New Orleans Saints. Green Bay ranks sixth in the league in scoring defense and seventh in total defense. The Packers are on pace for their best season-ending rankings in both categories since that 2010 title run.