"In Minneapolis, Luka Doncic spearheaded a remarkable surge for the Dallas Mavericks, sinking pivotal shots in the crucial moments, drawing fouls, and exhibiting solid defensive prowess.
While the Mavericks may not have been favored to win yet another series, their strong start has allowed them to snatch home-court advantage from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Doncic showcased his brilliance with 15 of his 33 points coming in the final quarter, while Kyrie Irving contributed 24 of his 30 points in the opening half, propelling the Mavericks to a 108-105 triumph over the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday night.
Despite a less-than-stellar 6-for-25 shooting performance from beyond the arc, Dallas dominated the paint with a 62-38 edge in points.
"We made key shots," remarked Doncic, who orchestrated a critical 13-0 run with seven consecutive points early in the fourth quarter, granting the Mavericks a 97-89 lead."
Naz Reid tallied 15 points, while Kyle Anderson added 11 off the bench for the Wolves, who enjoyed a two-day break after a dramatic Game 7 comeback against defending champions Denver.
Trailing 102-98 following a pivotal 3-pointer by Anthony Edwards with 3:37 remaining, the Mavericks launched an impressive 8-0 run, only halted by a late tip-in with just 10.5 seconds left on the clock. Under coach Jason Kidd's guidance, the Mavericks clinched their first victory in the opening game of a playoff series in six attempts.
Jaden McDaniels continued his impressive form with his third consecutive 20-plus-point performance, notching 24 points for the Timberwolves. However, despite earning his first All-NBA selection, Anthony Edwards was contained to 19 points, a testament to the collective defensive effort from the Mavericks. Karl-Anthony Towns struggled, managing only 16 points on a 6-for-20 shooting night.
The clash of stars was evident, with the Mavericks' leading duo delivering when it mattered most, while the Timberwolves grappled with offensive execution.
"Wolves coach Chris Finch lamented, "Terrible offense down the stretch: bad shots, turnovers, no composure. We've got to be better in clutch moments."
Towns ignited a crucial 10-0 run for the Wolves with a series of key plays, including a long jumper, a lob to Rudy Gobert for a slam, and a timely 3-pointer, reclaiming the lead with 4:39 remaining. However, Luka Doncic interrupted the momentum with a clutch 3-pointer. P.J. Washington's deep shot reclaimed the lead for the Mavericks with just under two minutes left.
Despite Towns' efforts, a putback dunk that would have tied the game was waved off for basket interference.
Game 2 is set to take place in Minnesota on Friday night.
Edwards, though scoreless in the third quarter, contributed 11 rebounds and eight assists.
Speaking about Edwards, Doncic praised, "He's an amazing player. We have to put multiple bodies on him. If he's going 1-on-1, it's kind of tough to stop him."
Naz Reid tallied 15 points, while Kyle Anderson added 11 off the bench for the Wolves, who enjoyed a two-day break after a dramatic Game 7 comeback against defending champions Denver.
The transition from facing the deliberate style of the Nuggets, led by NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, to the Mavericks' pick-and-roll-heavy offense was evident. The Mavericks' purposeful movement kept the Wolves from establishing their half-court defense around NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
Irving's dynamic play, particularly in transition, posed a new challenge for the Wolves' league-leading defense compared to their previous series against the Nuggets.
Reflecting on Irving's impact, Doncic remarked, "He got us going. Without him, we would probably be down 20 at halftime. I had to help him in the second half a little bit. So we switched roles this time."
Since acquiring Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington at the trade deadline, the Mavericks have significantly bolstered their defense, a fact evidenced by their recent success against top-seeded Oklahoma City, whom they defeated in six games in the previous round. Luka Doncic also made crucial defensive contributions, including breaking up a lob from Mike Conley to Rudy Gobert for one of his three steals with just 1:06 left on the clock and the Mavericks holding a two-point lead.
Coach Kidd expressed his satisfaction with the team's composure, stating, "No one panicked. There was just a lot of trust, no matter how bad or how good we're playing."