Mavericks Close Out Timberwolves with Dominant Win
The Dallas Mavericks blew out the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game Five, 124-109, to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011. Stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving scored 36 points each. The backcourt duo continued to drill tough shot after tough shot, much to the dismay of the Timberwolves crowd. Minnesota’s stars, Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony Towns also scored 28 points each.
The first quarter was close throughout until Doncic drained a three-pointer to put the Mavericks up double digits. Things started to get ugly for the Mavericks as an Irving layup in the second quarter had the Mavericks double up on the Timberwolves, 46-23. The duo of Doncic and Irving had an answer for every coverage that the Timberwolves threw at them. They carried the Mavericks to a 29-point lead heading into the break.
Mavericks big man Dereck Lively took another scary hit to the head in the game during a loose ball. He left the game momentarily before coming back in. Lively had nine points and seven rebounds. The Timberwolves could not make a dent into the lead. It was not until within three minutes in the game, that they finally pulled out their starters despite the game being out of hand since the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves’ bench as Kyle Anderson and Naz Reid combined for 5-19 shooting for 12 points.
The Mavericks’ biggest lead of the game was 36. Doncic was named the Western Conference Finals MVP. Doncic is headed to his first NBA Finals while Irving is back in the finals for the first time since 2017 and it will be his fourth Finals appearance. The Mavericks will take on the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals.
