Mavericks Go Up 3-0 in Western Conference Finals
This game was the first Western Conference Final playoff matchup in American Airlines Center since 2022 when Dallas lost to the soon-to-be 2022 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors in five games. While the Maverick's roster looked much different back then with Jalen Brunson, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Reggie Bullock providing a lot of scoring, one thing has stayed the same: Luka Doncic is the leader of this team. However, after Brunson left Dallas to join the New York Knicks during the summer of 2022 the Mavericks had to bring in another superstar to play alongside Doncic.
The player they would land was Kyrie Irving, one of, if not, the most talented guards to ever play in the NBA, who has gone on to form the best recent if not all-time backcourt alongside Doncic we have ever seen. Even without having Dereck Lively II for the majority of this game as he left early with a neck injury, Dallas was able to play some of the best basketball we have seen them play in the postseason yet to get this Game Three win 116-107. This win comes after the Mavericks' Game Two win 109-108 on Friday night which put them up 2-0 in this series as they headed back home. Let’s talk about how Dallas won this game!
This game started with both teams showcasing their offensive capabilities. The Mavericks took an early lead in the first quarter, outscoring the Timberwolves 33-28. Doncic and Irving led the charge for Dallas, combining for 20 points in the opening period. However, the Timberwolves, with Anthony Edwards scoring consistently, continued to keep the game competitive. In the second quarter, the Mavericks maintained their momentum, adding another 27 points to their tally. The Timberwolves struggled to narrow the gap, managing 24 points despite solid contributions from Edwards and Mike Conley.
By halftime, the Mavericks held a 60-52 lead. The Timberwolves came out strong in the second half, rallying with a 35-point surge. Edwards continued his impressive performance, while Jaden McDaniels and Karl-Anthony Towns provided crucial support. This offensive push brought the Timberwolves within striking distance, but the Mavericks offense, led by Doncic and Irving, remained resilient, scoring 27 points to keep a slim lead going into the final quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Mavericks sealed their victory with a composed and efficient performance. They outscored the Timberwolves 29-20 with Doncic and Irving continuing to dominate. The Timberwolves, despite their efforts, couldn’t overcome the Mavericks’ lead. Turnovers and missed opportunities plagued Minnesota in the closing minutes, allowing Dallas to secure the win.
Doncic and Irving both led the Mavericks with 33 points apiece. Doncic put up 33 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Irving recorded 33 points, four assists, three rebounds, and a steal. P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. were the only other two players to finish in double figures for the Mavericks in this one finishing with 16 and 11 points, respectively. Edwards put on a show scoring 26 on 11 of 24 shooting as well as having nine rebounds and nine assists but his dynamic duo partner Towns struggled in this game shooting five of 18 from the field and zero of eight from behind the arc. Can Towns and the other members of the Timberwolves step up in Game Four to help Edwards continue this series or will Dallas make their first NBA Finals appearance since Dirk Nowitzki was their star player back in 2011?
