Doncic Leads Mavericks to Game Two Victory
I think it is fair to say that the Dallas Mavericks versus the Minnesota Timberwolves is not the Western Conference Finals matchup that anyone expected at the beginning of this NBA season or even last month when the playoffs were starting. Much of the NBA community may still be in shock that MVP Nikola Jokic and the defending NBA Champion Denver Nuggets got knocked out in the second round, but it is time to leave that series in the past and focus on the incredible series we have on our hands. The Timberwolves, led by twenty-two-year-old Anthony Edwards, dropped Game One of this series on Wednesday night 108-105, losing their first Game One of the playoffs. As both these teams headed into Game Two while the Mavericks, of course, wanted to win another game on the road there had to be a desire by Minnesota to at least win one of the first two games of the series on their home floor. However, as the final buzzer sounded it was Dallas who emerged victorious as a stepback three-pointer in the final seconds by Luka Doncic made the score 109-108 to put Dallas up 2-0 in this series. Let’s take a closer look at how the Mavericks won this game!
In the first half of this game, we saw both teams trading leads with neither able to pull away significantly originally until the second quarter when the Timberwolves saw themselves up 18 points on the Mavericks. However, Dallas was able to cut this lead to 12 points late in the second quarter only allowing Minnesota to go into the locker room with a 60-48 lead. Doncic set the tone early for the Mavericks, driving to the basket and dishing out assists, helping the team maintain a slight edge before Minnesota took a large lead. Kyrie Irving also contributed significantly with his sharpshooting from behind the arc. On the other side, Edwards and Rudy Gobert kept Minnesota competitive and in the lead, with Gobert dominating the paint and Edwards showcasing his scoring ability.
The third quarter continued in the similar vein, with both teams matching each other shot for shot. Daniel Gafford was a standout for Dallas, not only contributing points but also protecting the rim with five blocks. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s Naz Reid came off the bench to provide a spark, hitting seven of nine from three-point range and keeping the Timberwolves within striking distance. The final quarter was a nail-biter. Doncic completed his triple-double, finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists, while Irving added 20 points, including some crucial three-pointers. Despite Minnesota’s strong effort, particularly from Mike Conley and Reid who finished combining for 41 points on nearly 56% combined shooting, Dallas managed to hold on. Conley’s steady hand and Edwards’ aggressiveness were key, but a few missed opportunities and turnovers in the closing minutes hampered their comeback. While Minnesota was in a position to win this game many times throughout the course of the night, they needed Jaden McDaniels and Karl-Anthony Towns to provide more on both ends of the floor if they wanted to get the job done.
This Game Two was a testament to the competitive spirit of both teams. Dallas’ superior shooting and clutch performances from their stars ultimately made the difference. Minnesota showed resilience and depth, particularly with Reid’s unexpected scoring burst, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Dallas’ precision and execution in the final moments. Fans in attendance for this one were treated to an exciting game that highlighted the talents and determination of both squads. Game Three will take place in Dallas on Sunday, May 26th at 8:00 PM EST. Will Dallas take Game Three to make a Minnesota series comeback nearly impossible or will the Timberwolves get their first win of the series to keep their dream of making the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history alive?
