DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks understand that a big part of finishing among the top teams is taking care of the bottom-feeders.
The Minnesota Timberwolves qualify as the latter.
Small forward Chandler Parsons scored 29, and the Mavericks pulled away early and pounded the Wolves 128-101 Sunday night at American Airlines Center.
Dallas (32-28) remained tied with the Portland Trail Blazers for sixth place in the Western Conference. The Mavs improved to 2-1 halfway through their season-high, six-game homestand after recording their largest margin of victory this season.
Parsons hit 10 of 15 shots, including four of seven 3-pointers, in 27 minutes. He grabbed six rebounds and dished four assists despite sitting out the fourth quarter with the Mavs comfortably ahead.
Dallas shooting guard Wesley Matthews hit three 3-pointers and scored 15 points. Power forward Dirk Nowitzki had 10 points — all in the first quarter — and guard Deron Williams added 10 points and nine assists.
Three Mavericks reserves scored in double digits — forward David Lee (13), guard J.J. Barea (12) and guard Justin Anderson (10). Lee also had nine boards.
The Timberwolves, undermanned due to a rash of injuries and recently waiving veteran guard Andre Miller, dropped to 19-41 overall, 0-3 against Dallas this season. Minnesota, playing on the second half of a back-to-back, is 9-21 on the road.
Small forward Shabazz Muhammad led the Wolves with 24 points off the bench. Rookie of the Year favorite Karl-Anthony Towns had 12 points and 11 rebounds for his 34th double-double,.
Minnesota shooting guard Andrew Wiggins scored 15, point guard Ricky Rubio had 10 points and five assists, and shooting guard Zach LaVine scored 10 and had nine rebounds.
Towns was the only Minnesota starter to hit at least half of his shots. The Wolves shot 37.8 percent as a team. The Mavericks connected on 52.8 percent.
The Mavericks opened with their usual starting lineup, which included center Zaza Pachulia, despite going small in the second half and overtime of Friday’s comeback win over Denver. Pachulia played only eight first-half minutes against the Nuggets.
Dallas’ starters were on point, and the Mavericks raced out to a double-figure lead five minutes into the game. The Mavs were up 20 late in the first quarter and never trailed.
Parsons had a string of 13 consecutive points in the third quarter, as Dallas went up 25 going into the fourth.
Dallas gets another sub-.500 squad Tuesday night with the Orlando Magic coming to town. The Wolves return to Minneapolis for a Wednesday game against the Washington Wizards before hitting the road again.
NOTES: Dallas owner Mark Cuban recently suggested the league should consider moving back the 3-point line. Asked before the game how that may impact Golden State PG Steph Curry, Cuban replied: “It makes guys like that more valuable, not less.” … Minnesota continues to work on a buyout of SG Kevin Martin’s contract, according to reports. Martin must be waived by Tuesday to be eligible for the playoffs with another team. … The Mavs, tied for sixth with Portland in the West playoff standings entering Sunday, have a goal when it comes to positioning. “We’re trying to get that fifth seed, make a run here and be playing the best basketball we have down the stretch,” Dallas SF Chandler Parsons said.