Dirk Nowitzki couldn't get in a rhythm for most of three quarters because of foul trouble, so seldom-used veteran Brian Cardinal stepped right in and knocked down shots in the building he used to call home.
The Dallas Mavericks didn't miss a beat with their MVP candidate on the bench, the strongest sign yet that they could be a dangerous team in the playoffs.
Nowitzki overcame foul trouble to score 25 points in 27 minutes and Cardinal scored a season-high 12 points to help the Mavericks outlast the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 108-105 victory on Monday night.
Source: ESPN.com Game Recap