With the way they’re playing in the preseason, the Dallas Mavericks look every bit like a championship contender. Will Luka Doncic and crew finish the preseason with a spotless record?

The Minnesota Timberwolves, on the other hand, are winless to date, but a win over the Mavericks would at least be a nice ending to their preseason campaign.

Catch this game live this Friday, December 18, at 9:30 AM Manila time.

HOME TEAM: Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks are indeed looking ready for the regular season. Luka Doncic and company scored their second win in the preseason on Tuesday, downing the Milwaukee Bucks on the road, 128-112. Doncic led the Mavs with 27 points on 9-of-20 shooting from the field.

Josh Richardson also gave a preview of what to expect of him while playing alongside Doncic, as he dropped 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting. The two should be a menace for the Timberwolves this Friday, especially since Minnesota doesn’t seem to be paying much attention to defense. The Timberwolves have allowed 115.0 points over their last two games.

The Mavs are scorching hot from deep in the preseason. After going 17 of 23 from behind the arc in their first preseason game, a 112-102 win over Milwaukee, the Mavericks went 22 of 46 from long range on Tuesday. The offense has been crazy good for these Mavericks, who are coming off a season in which they set the best offensive rating in NBA history.

ROAD TEAM: Minnesota Timberwolves

It’s still too early to call Anthony Edwards a bust, but that won’t stop many on social media call him just that after two cold performances in the preseason. Edwards has scored 17 points on a cringe-worthy 26.1 percent shooting from the field. In the Timberwolves’ 123-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies last Tuesday, Edwards shot 4 of 14 for 12 points in 26 minutes. Perhaps, Edwards is due for a performance that befits a No. 1 overall pick, and that could come this Friday against the Mavs.

Edwards aside, the Timberwolves must be liking the play of another youngster in shooting guard Jaylen Nowell. The former Washington Husky is averaging 11.5 points on 58.3 percent shooting from the field in the preseason, though, that’s largely skewed by his 22-point performance in 13 minutes during the T’wolves’ 107-105 loss to Memphis on Dec. 13.

In any case, Minnesota will be hoping D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns to carry them to a win. They are averaging 16.5 and 13.5 points, respectively, in the preseason.

PREDICTIONS:

The Mavericks will keep the good times rolling, as they bring down Minnesota to finish the preseason undefeated. The Mavericks win this one, 125-112.