Mavericks keep composure down the stretch to win tight Game 1 over Wolves, 108-105

Despite six Minnesota players in double figures, they lose home court advantage

The tandem of Luka Doncic (15 in the fourth) and Kyrie Irving (13 in the first) stabilized their inexperienced teammates and shined most brightly in crunchtime – utilizing an 13-0 run in the fourth to secure a Game 1 road victory 108-105. Doncic and Irving poured in 31 of Dallas’ first 43 points to help the Mavericks stay close enough to stage its second half comeback despite a horrid 6-for-25 team effort from three.

Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels poured in 19 of his 24 in the first half to stake the Wolves to a three point halftime lead, but the hosts were done in by stunted second halves from their stars, Karl-Anthony Towns (16 points and 7 rebounds) and Anthony Edwards (19 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists). Naz Reid (15 points and 5 rebounds) and Kyle Anderson (11 points) provided punch off the bench.

Irving (30 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Doncic (33 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals) joined forces to supply 62% of the Mavericks’ scoring and they scored or assisted on 36 of the team’s 43 field goals. The three-headed center trio of Daniel Gafford (10), Derek Lively, Jr. (9), and PJ Washington, Jr, (13) combined for 32 points, 27 rebounds, and 5 blocks.

From the onset, Dallas had difficulty getting any of its non-star starters involved, as they missed several attempts. McDaniels confidently nailed his first three triples to put the Wolves ahead by seven, while his teammates tried to get Rudy Gobert makeable opportunities. Irving was absolutely magical throughout his playing minutes in the frame. The teams converged late in the period and traded the lead back-and-forth. Former Spur Anderson had three buckets to force his assigned defender to guard him, and the Wolves closed out the period with their own run to go up six.

McDaniels continued his perfect shooting start into the second period, and no Maverick took up Irving’s slack in response. Anderson’s floater gave the Wolves its biggest lead of nine, and McDaniels led the team in scoring with his white hot shooting. Reid continued his successful playoff run with timely shooting and defending. While Edwards hit a three to push the Dallas deficit to eight, his unforced turnover was sandwiched by Irving’s 5-point burst that closed that gap heading into the break.

Coming out of the break, Dallas’ non-stars found their way into the scorebook, while Edwards was not as impactful as he was in the first half. In a quarter where Edwards somehow went scoreless, it was the other Wolves – Conley, Gobert, and McDaniels – that helped maneuver Minnesota back into the lead. For the Mavericks, the third period belonged to Doncic and Irving again. However, a transition three by supersub Reid followed an even more impressive block that he did at the other end helped put the Wolves back up 83-82.

Observations

• Love that the song being played at tipoff was Prince’s “When Dove’s Cry!”
• My question for Dallas heading into the series: “Will Jaden Hardy, Josh Green or Dante Exum be the release-valve ball-handler that the Mavericks need in the critical moments?”
• My question for Minnesota: “Will McDaniels be able to average 15 points per game in the series?” He got 60% of the way there in the opening frame, and ended up with 24.
• With all this beautiful lob action, did Zach Collins complete any lob dunks this season?
• Most painful 3-point shooting form in the league? Anderson is definitely in the top five. He did make his second attempt, though with Reggie Miller saying “It takes about eight seconds to wind-up but the result is there!”
• The between-quarters player interviews are a nice touch.
• That 4-5 pick-and-roll with Gobert and Towns seems like it won’t last for long this series.
• It really angers me that Gobert has been in the league this long and doesn’t have a single go-to move in the paint.
• The Wolves picked up Doncic and Irving deep into the backcourt on the opening possessions. Irving did his 1-on-1 wizardry to get two early baskets, and Doncic had Dallas’ other points. McDaniel’s trio of wing threes put Minnesota up 15-8. The Wolves, while hounding the Mavs guards, also tried deter the lob action that Doncic loves. An aggressive Irving sliced and diced his way to a quick dozen points to push the Mavericks ahead with an 11-0 run. Reid’s transition lay-up and Edwards’ pull-up three gave Minnesota a 33-27 advantage after the period.
• Doncic and McDaniels traded threes at the start of the second quarter. Gobert continued to pile up Dallas fouls and free throw attempts. The defense and hustle were too much for the teams’ offense over the next several minutes. McDaniels’ steal and lay-up put Minnesota up seven. Of course it was Irving that broke his team’s scoring drought and spearheaded another Mavericks run. Anderson continued wreaking havoc on the Mavericks’s plan to leave him alone. Edwards flung a Ginobili-esque baseline pass to find an open McDaniels for yet another three. Irving continued to go lights-out on offense, but Dallas went into the half down 59-62.
• On cue, the Dallas stars found their bigs on two straight lobs in the third. McDaniels’ basket put the Wolves up three. Towns answered Derrick Jones, Jr. transition slam with his own tip-dunk at the other end. Doncic got to the line early on, which gave him the necessary reps to start hitting his shot comfortably. Reid had a really outstanding two-way sequence late in the quarter, and Minnesota went into the fourth up only one.
• Reid’s wing three and McDaniel’s last points for the night nudged the Wolves back up five to start the fourth. Dallas’ fourth quarter field goals started: Irving, Doncic, Doncic, Doncic. Doncic’s personal 7-0 run put the Mavericks in the driver’s seat for good. More importantly, his ability to draw fouls nudged the Wolves into the foul bonus only five minutes in. A tentative Edwards threw an errant pass out of bounds, but he made up for it with a pull-up three to cut the deficit to five. The Mavericks’ execution stalled out in the middle part of the period, and Towns’ straightaway three put Minnesota back up one.
• Edwards’ three was matched by one of Doncic’s own. Then the teams traded turnovers. Washington, Jr.’s corner three made it 104-102 Dallas. Towns’ tip dunk – that would have tied the game – was ruled correctly as basket interference. McDaniels curiously passed up a corner three, and Conley turned the ball over. Doncic’s stepback jumper over McDaniels and Irving’s free throws salted the game away.

Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals is back in Minneapolis Friday night at 7:30 PM CDT.