Tim Cate, John Krawczynski, Zach Harper, Hunter Patterson
The Dallas Mavericks overcame an 18-point deficit on the road to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-108 on Friday and take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals series.
Luka Doncic sealed the win with a step-back 3-pointer over reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. Doncic finished with a game-high 32 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. Kyrie Irving finished with 20 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds on 4-of-7 3-pointers.
2024 Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid led the Timberwolves with a playoff career-high 23 points on 7-of-9 3-pointers. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns continued to struggle, combining for just 36 points on 9-of-33 shooting.
The Mavericks return to Dallas and need two more wins to advance to their first NBA Finals since 2011. Game 3 will be played on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
This is what Luka Doncic does
Even when the Mavericks were down by 18 points, there was always a sense of ruthless inevitability, a premonition that Dallas would get back in the game and that Doncic would make sure it happened.
It was Doncic who led the Mavericks to similar comebacks time and time again, and it was Doncic who craved that moment when the weight of victory or defeat would rest on his shoulders, like something that would lift him to greater heights rather than a burden.
Doncic danced with Gobert for about 10 seconds before finally stepping back and sinking the game-winning 3-pointer, another blow to the reputation he's steadily built since entering the league. It was another game-winning shot, and it was followed by a guttural yell. In fact, it was another signal of his arrival, but it had been coming for a while.
But just to be on the safe side, let me remind you again: he is Luka Doncic, and the minute you remember that, he will beat you.
‼ ️‼ ️‼ ️‼ ️‼ ️ pic.twitter.com/mWIllHmfl1
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 25, 2024
Doncic has been to the Western Conference Finals before, but he's never been here.: They're two wins away from the NBA Finals, and while the team is heading back to Dallas, they have two chances to make the Finals, and being this close means nothing.
Nothing is guaranteed in the NBA, but Doncic does seem to make the shots that matter when it counts. — Tim Cate, Mavericks reporter
2-0. @ModeloUSA // #OneForDallas #MFFL pic.twitter.com/zND3bubXke
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 25, 2024
Edwards and Towns did not show up.
Minnesota is in serious trouble as two All-Stars have yet to play in this series.
Edwards had a terrible game, making just 5 of 17 shots and mistaking a pass with 12 seconds left to set up Doncic's chance to shine. Towns made just 4 of 16 shots and barely played in the fourth quarter because Reid was the better option.
That's the biggest reason the Timberwolves squandered an 18-point lead. Doncic and Irving look much more prepared for this moment. They've been in this situation before, and it shows. The Mavericks stars kept their cool even when the shots weren't falling, finding their teammates and setting up offense with ease.
But that wasn't the case for the Timberwolves' stars, who played with a frenetic energy that was unsettling for a team seeking its first ever NBA Finals appearance.
Doncic had 13 assists and Irving had six, stabilizing Dallas' offense even when the Mavs weren't making shots. Towns and Edwards never found that calm, and now Minnesota is in trouble heading back to Dallas.
The Timberwolves have bounced back from adversity all season, but they've never faced a situation quite like this. — John Krawczynski, Timberwolves reporter
Lessons Learned
For a young and inexperienced team, every win and loss in the postseason is a learning experience.
And Minnesota finds itself in the exact same situation that led to its downfall against the Denver Nuggets in the second round: two brutal losses at home, both of which should have been double-digit wins for the Timberwolves, but both losses came by one possession.
Last round, they saw what a champion's heart can do in a pinch. The Nuggets went to Minneapolis and played brilliantly to regain home court advantage. They took a series lead at home and looked like they were going to win. But Minnesota would never let it go, as they summoned the heart that would be the beginning of a championship run.
The problem with trying to retake home court against Dallas and save their season is that the Mavericks have two excellent closers who can compete with the best and can harass opponents with all sorts of offensive methods, and the Timberwolves are still trying to find consistency.
Minnesota will need to improve its maturity and real-time decision-making ability to have a chance to pull off this fight back against Dallas. — Zach Harper, NBA staff writer
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(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
