MINNEAPOLIS – One of the questions posed to Avery Johnson and his players before the game concerned the Mavericks' motivation and ability to get up for such a bad team.

Everyone had it wrong. Minnesota was the team that appeared disinterested this dreary Sunday afternoon, not the Mavericks.

A 101-78 win over the toothless Timberwolves at the Target Center gave the Mavericks a chance to stretch their legs and Johnson a chance to empty his bench and reduce the workload of his team's heavy lifters. It was the fourth consecutive win for a team that is starting to show the focus and consistency that were its calling cards last season.

"We came out and didn't play to the level of our competition," Mavericks forward Josh Howard said.

Don't take that for granted.

Four of the Mavericks' losses this season have come against teams that entered the weekend with losing records. The team had to stage a fourth-quarter rally at home Friday night to beat a dreadful Miami team that was playing without Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal.

"The Miami game set us back," said forward Dirk Nowitzki, who finished with 30 points. "I think more than anything, we've got to be more consistent. Not only a half here or a game here, we've got to be more consistent over long stretches.

"Once we get a little more consistent, I think we're going to be a good team."

The Mavericks were as good in this rare afternoon game as the 'Wolves were bad.

The Mavericks opened a 17-point lead in the first 10 minutes. The team extended that lead to 31 points in the second half before Minnesota played with a modicum of pride late in the fourth quarter.

"I thought we opened it focused, and I thought we were pretty focused throughout," Johnson said. "One of the toughest things to do in this league is to keep a big lead."

Minnesota's Al Jefferson had 31 points and 14 rebounds when these teams last met, in late November. He lived in the paint along with many of his teammates. The 'Wolves scored 58 points from point-blank range in that November loss.

Jefferson wasn't a factor Sunday. He did finish with 16 points, but Minnesota was down 29-12 before he hit his first basket. The Mavericks ran a second defender at him the moment he put the ball on the floor, keeping him from powering to the basket.

Points in the paint? The 'Wolves had 34.

"It was embarrassing the way we defended the paint," Johnson said of that first meeting. "But that was kind of a different Mavericks ball club.

"This ball club you see now recently, very recently, by the way, it's trying to play a little bit better defense, no matter who we playing against. This particular Mavericks team isn't really complaining. There aren't many discussions with referees. They're really focused on what they're doing.

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Minnesota's Sebastian Telfair fights for possession of the ball with DeSagana Diop of the Dallas Mavericks.

"It's fun to watch when they're playing that type of defense and the ball is moving."

Fun is not a word associated with the 'Wolves much these days. The worst team in basketball, Minnesota has lost eight consecutive games to plunge to 4-29. It has lost by an average of 15.2 points in this latest slide.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, have won nine of their last 11 games. Nowitzki remains cautious, but most of his teammates embrace the idea that the team is settling into a winning rhythm for the first time this season.

"We're playing a lot more efficient on both ends of the floor," guard Jason Terry said. "We pay attention to details and have a focus about ourselves. I think that's what you've seen the last few games.

"We've really been locked in on our opponents."

No matter how bad they are.